Ashes heroes Michael Vaughan and Ashley Giles face crucial meetings over the next few days to decide if they need further operations.

England captain Vaughan will discover tomorrow if the latest setback in his recovery from a knee problem will result in surgery at a summit with medical experts from Yorkshire and England.

But England are also anxious about the prospects for left-arm spinner Giles, who is due to fly to America in the next few days to seek further advice after being advised he needs an operation on hip problems.

Those meetings could have severe consequences for England's plans for this winter's Ashes series, where they are already expected to be without Simon Jones as he recovers from his latest knee operation.

"All of our injured players are world class Vaughan, Flintoff, Giles and Jones and it's going to be a big concern if they don't come back and play this season," said coach Duncan Fletcher. "I've adopted an attitude that if they do come back it will be a huge bonus. That's why we've got to go with these young, other players to try to get them ready for later on in the winter."

Vaughan's meeting will be of particular interest to Fletcher, whose England side has struggled at Test and one-day level in the absence of their captain.

At least Fletcher has received some good news with key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who has been told to rest his injured ankle, being given rave reports about his progress.

"He's lost quite a lot of weight and he's working hard in the gym so there's been some good reports of him," explained Fletcher, who is hoping to have his talisman back for the opening Test against Pakistan at Lord's on July 13.

England have also received encouraging news about the fitness of Kevin Pietersen, who became a limping passenger in the field with a bruised left knee.

Pietersen has been hit twice in the last two matches on his knee while batting and was sent for a scan today, which confirmed there was no fracture, only heavy bruising.

The Hampshire batsman has now been given the all-clear to join up with the rest of the squad for Wednesday's fourth match of the NatWest Series at Old Trafford, when England