LIAM Plunkett has spoken of his frustration at the trio of injuries which have disrupted his involvement with Yorkshire this season.

Plunkett has suffered separate muscle tears or strains, going some way to limiting him to only eight county appearances across all formats.

The fast bowler has also been away with England's limited-overs teams playing against South Africa and at the Champions Trophy.

Thankfully, the 32-year-old is fit again as he firstly bids to help the Vikings get into the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals with a win over defending champions Northamptonshire at Headingley on Thursday.

Plunkett could then play one or two County Championship matches before England resume white-ball commitments against the West Indies on Saturday, September 16.

The former Durham player missed the majority of April and July with a torn calf and a torn groin, before missing just short of a fortnight prior to the Roses win over Lancashire on Friday with a tweaked hamstring.

"It's really frustrating because, over the last couple of years, I've felt in really good form," said Plunkett ahead of Yorkshire's final T20 group fixture, which sees them needing to win to have any chance of progression out of the group.

"I want to bring that to Yorkshire. It just seems like I'm picking up little niggles at the wrong time. It's never the right time to be injured but I want to play for Yorkshire and help them win games.

"I really enjoyed the red-ball game at Scarborough against Somerset (he picked up the groin injury in his only Championship appearance at the start of July). I felt I bowled really well."

Plunkett added: "I've spoken to a few people about it. I look into everything to try and improve and sort it out – my training, my recovery and my diet.

"It's the little niggles and I'm out for eight days here and nine days there. That's the problem. Then you've got to start again and build back up.

"It's so frustrating because I want to be top end. For me, there's no point bowling at 80mph. I want to come out and bowl fast, so I have to go from zero to 100.

"But that takes its toll on the body year by year when you're getting older."

Ironically, Plunkett's appearances for England have not been affected and his haul of 28 one-day international wickets in 2017 is the third best by anyone in the world.

He claimed figures of 1-29 from three overs in the win over Lancashire on Friday and then 3-42 from four in the defeat to Leicestershire on Saturday.

Plunkett said: "It's a big end to the season for us. I'm desperate to help Yorkshire win games."

Yorkshire currently sit fourth in the North Group table with 13 points from as many games.

They will drop out of the top four tonight should Derbyshire beat Durham but will return to the top four with a win over Northants, who are currently one point clear of them.

Then, it is all about other results on Friday night, with Yorkshire the only team to finish their group campaign on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Gary Ballance is lined up to play a part in Yorkshire's second XI three-day match against Durham at Emirates Riverside, starting today, following a month out with a fractured finger.