MATTHEW Elliott's career with Yorkshire looks to be over after he reported to Headingley with a recurrence of the knee trouble which he suffered back home in Australia during the winter.

The left-hander had been due to travel on the team coach to March ahead of today's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round match against Cambridgeshire where he was due to make his first appearance of the season.

But Elliott surprised Yorkshire officials by announcing that his knee was still not 100 per cent and as a result he was withdrawn from the side.

Yorkshire's director of cricket, Geoff Cope, had to put in a frantic call to Old Trafford where Vic Craven had just changed into his whites in readiness for a one-day friendly between two Second XI Roses sides.

Craven, who had originally been left out in order to accommodate Elliott, was instructed to dash to Headingley and replace the Australian on the journey to March.

Yorkshire were then involved in several calls with Elliott's agent in Australia and Cope said later that an official announcement clarifying the situation would be made either tomorrow or on Friday.

At the same time, Yorkshire will reveal whether they have gone ahead and signed Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.

Yorkshire are believed to have wanted Yuvraj as cover in case Anthony McGrath gets called into England's one-day squad but if Elliott returns home they may have to bring in a second more experienced oversees player to fill his shoes on a permanent basis for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire physiotherapist Scott McAllister has confirmed that Darren Gough did strain a hamstring when he came off the field during Phoenix's game with Essex Eagles at Headingley on Monday.

Gough is now under McAllister's supervision and although it is too early to say exactly how long Yorkshire and England's main strike bowler will be out, a hamstring injury can take up to six weeks to mend.

Chris Silverwood replaced Gough at March after recovering from a foot injury but Gary Fellows remained sidelined after opening up scar tissue on his hand while practising before Monday's match.

He is waiting for the swelling to go down before it is decided whether he should have an X-ray to check if he has suffered a fractured finger but it is unlikely the injury is that serious.

Matthew Hoggard continues to build up his fitness following a stomach muscle strain and if he plays in a Second XI one-day Roses friendly at Elland tomorrow he may be considered for the Championship match with Derbyshire which starts at Headingley on Friday.

Bowling coach Arnie Sidebottom was tipping Yorkshire to bounce back from their crushing National League defeat against Essex at Headingley on Monday.

He is hoping the performance was a one-off and added: "We have played well up to now and hope we can get back on track.

"There are no easy games but if we play to our potential we will win and we hope we can be successful in the competition again."

Sidebottom admitted that there are no immediate plans to giveEngland's new one-day skipper, Michael Vaughan, a chance to captain the county.

Sidebottom said: "It would have been discussed but we have got a captain, Anthony McGrath.

"He has done a great job and Michael has been away with England most of the time and has not played much for Yorkshire really."

Included in the Cambridgeshire side is former Yorkshire batsman Simon Kellett, who now plays for Dunnington in the Hunters The Estate Agent York Senior League.

Yorkshire (v Cambridgeshire) from: Wood, Vaughan, Lumb, McGrath, Blakey, Craven, Gray, Silverwood, Kirby, Sidebottom, Bresnan, Swanepoel.

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, May 07, 2003