LIAM PLUNKETT, who returned early from the England tour of Bangladesh because of an elbow injury, is in the Durham squad for the two-day friendly against Lancashire, starting at Old Trafford today.

But Graham Onions will not feature in the Durham side until the third championship match, starting at Headingley on April 27, at the earliest.

“His scans revealed some potential for a stress fracture in his back,” said coach Geoff Cook. “He has been resting and will go to Loughborough next week for observation by England. He will probably do some bowling there.”

Plunkett missed Durham’s trip to Abu Dhabi but will be fit for four-day action against Essex at Riverside next week.

Steve Harmison stands down today, with Luke Evans given the chance to stake a claim to make his championship debut next Thursday.

The 6ft 7in seamer from Sunderland, who will be 23 in two weeks, could find himself competing with Mitch Claydon for a place in the early season line-up.

Mark Davies, who played in the final one-day match in Abu Dhabi, is building his match fitness with the second team against Durham University.

He bowled yesterday and will do so again today.

“We felt Mark would have more opportunity to get in the overs he needs by staying with the seconds,” said Cook.

“The plan at Old Trafford is for one side to bat one day and the other the next, with 90 overs each. It’s an opportunity for Luke Evans to gain experience against top-class batsmen.”

DURHAM: W R Smith (capt), D M Benkenstein, M J Di Venuto, L E Plunkett, I D Blackwell, G J Muchall, M E Claydon, K J Coetzer, C D Thorp, P Mustard, B Stokes, L Evans Jimmy Anderson will return to action in Lancashire’s side after being out since injuring his knee during the England tour of South Africa.

He could be joined by South African batsman Ashwell Prince, who arrived on Tuesday, and West Indies paceman Daren Powell.

Durham’s visitors in the opening championship match, Essex, will be without Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria for their first three games.

Essex have been dealt a further blow by being denied the chance to sign Indian allrounder Yusuf Pathan for the Friends Provident T20 tournament.

The Indian board are not allowing any of their international players to come to England and 27-year-old Pathan is seen as a big asset after scoring the fastest IPL century from 37 balls for the Rajasthan Royals.

■ South Northumberland’s Stephen Humble is the only northern player other than York’s Duncan Snell in the Unicorns’ final 15-man squad to compete in the new 40-over league this season.

The Unicorns are the ECB’s recreational X1 and are making up the numbers, along with Scotland and Holland, in a competition to be played in three groups of seven.