June 01, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428

LONDON, May 31: England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard looks set to miss the third Test against West Indies at Old Trafford, starting on June 7, after aggravating his groin injury in the nets ahead of Yorkshire's one-day fixture against Derbyshire at Headingley.

Hoggard, who withdrew from England's attack after bowling just 10.1 overs in the first Test at Lord's, had been optimistic about his rehabilitation.

He was hoping to play for his club side Baildon on Saturday, as well as Thursday’s match, but with a long international season ahead of England, he will not now be risked.

The news is a further setback for England's new coach Peter Moores, who had hinted in the aftermath of the Headingley Test that Hoggard’s injury was more serious than the medical team had first believed.

With Andrew Flintoff set to miss the rest of the West Indies series due to further surgery on his injured left ankle, England's pace attack is down to the bare bones, with the onus yet again on Steve Harmison to locate his best form.

In Hoggard's absence, Ryan Sidebottom, the left-arm seamer who took eight wickets in the Headingley win, is almost certain to retain his place in the side.—Agencies