ENGLAND captain Michael Vaughan is all set to play for Yorkshire next week to see if he has fully recovered from the knee injury which kept him out at Lord's Test.

If Vaughan comes through the totesport National League game against Scotland in Edinburgh on Monday then he'll join up with the Test squad at Headingley ahead on the second Test against New Zealand next Thursday.

"I have spoken to Michael and he is keen to play unless there is some last minute hitch with his progress but that seems unlikely," said Yorkshire's director of cricket David Byas.

Matthew Hoggard returned from the thrilling Lord's Test to strengthen Yorkshire's attack against Devon in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy game at Exmouth today.

But it is the last game he will play for them in quite a while. England have barred him from playing against Scotland next week.

Paceman John Blain will be out for up to three weeks with his calf tear but Chris Silverwood had an ankle injection yesterday and will play for the Academy against Harrogate at the New Rover ground on Monday.

If he comes through that game all right he will be back with Yorkshire for the Championship match with Essex at Chelmsford starting next Wednesday.

It is still unclear just when Steven Kirby will be fit enough to resume Championship cricket again. The strike bowler, out since the opening match of the season with a bad back, underwent a scan yesterday to try to determine the exact nature of the problem.

"Steve has twice declared himself fit for Championship cricket but has then broken down in agony in both Second XI and league matches," said Byas.

"A quarter of the Championship season is now over and we need to find out just what is wrong with Steve so that it can be put right as soon as possible."

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, May 26, 2004