LONDON, July 25: Liam Plunkett added to England's injury woes after the Durham fast bowler was on Tuesday ruled out of the second and third Tests against Pakistan with a side strain.

Plunkett played in the drawn series opener at Lord's before sustaining a left side strain while playing for Durham against West Indies 'A' over the weekend after he'd been allowed to play by England's management in a bid to get some batting practice.

He was selected in a 14-man squad for the second Test at Old Trafford which starts on Thursday but after consultations with physio Kirk Russell early Tuesday he has been ruled out of the next two Tests.

Fast bowler Sajid Mahmood could now be recalled at his Lancashire home ground while Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis is also in contention.

Plunkett will have a further scan on the injury and is also rated as a doubt for the final Test at The Oval starting on August 17 but England are hopeful he will be fit enough for the subsequent one-day series against Pakistan.

Already on England's long-term injury list are Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan, whose knee problem means he has been ruled out of the Test series in Australia later this year, star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (ankle), fast bowler Simon Jones (knee) and spinner Ashley Giles (hip).

With so many bowlers out, Monty Panesar — one of the remaining fit members of the attack — said paceman Flintoff's absence for the second Test in a row would be dent England's victory's hopes.

“It is a big blow because he's a world-class player and he offers a lot off the field as well, but it gives an opportunity for everyone else playing to put in good performances and hopefully that can be done,” the left-arm spinner told Sky Sports.

“It's going to be tough to bowl them out twice because they have depth, but as a unit we stick together.”—AFP