LONDON, Jan 19: England captain Michael Vaughan, who had knee surgery four weeks ago, remained upbeat about his fitness prospects on the run-up to the Tour of India which starts next month.

Vaughan will need further medical tests before the squad assemble on February 12 for the trip which includes three Tests and seven one-day internationals.

Vaughan returned early from the pre-Christmas trip to Pakistan to have surgery on the injured right knee which forced him out of the opening-Test defeat in Multan. But he insists everything has being going well in training.

“The knee is good and it’s gone quite well since the operation four weeks ago,” said Vaughan during and exclusive webchat with SunOnline. “I’m doing everything bar being on the cricket pitch twisting and turning. I’m doing a bit of running indoors and unless I have some real bad luck I expect to be on the plane in a few weeks’ time.

“It was the cartilage that was the problem but I’ve had a bit of a tidy-up, a bit of a trim, and touch wood it seems to have done the trick.”

However, Vaughan is fully aware of just how tough a task his side will face in India.

“People have to be realistic,” he added. “Miracles don’t happen and we’re still a very young side.

“We beat Australia by playing great cricket on our home soil. You put us against anyone in the world in English conditions and I expect us to win.

“But going to Pakistan or India, with different conditions, and it’s very tough for a team.

“Only Australia have won in India over the last decade. So even if Pakistan didn’t go well and India doesn’t go well, we will still be a good team going to Australia.—AFP