Darren Gough will end his four-month injury nightmare by making a dramatic return for England at his home ground of Headingley on Tuesday.

Gough is in line to face Sri Lanka in Leeds in England's third NatWest Series one-day international after proving his fitness for Yorkshire's 2nd XI against Durham at Darlington yesterday.

The pace bowler, who has undergone two operations to cure a knee cartilage injury, linked up with his international colleagues last night ahead of today's game with India at Lord's.

Before yesterday, Gough had not bowled a ball in competitive cricket since hurting himself in England's final one-day international against New Zealand on February 26.

But he bowled at a brisk pace off a full run against Durham and returned figures of 10-1-27-0 in the Second XI Trophy game at Feethams. England's selectors will turn to Gough on Tuesday as they look to add experience to a young bowling attack.

Gough said: "The Lord's game has come too soon for me, especially after playing for the Seconds, but I'm looking to be back on Tuesday.

"The last few months have been very hard but I'm chuffed to bits now.

"I bowled really well and got into a good rhythm.

"I put everything into it and I thought I had a good line and length, and I swung it too.

"There's no point rushing back because there's the rest of the summer and a long winter ahead of me. But I'll definitely be ready for Tuesday or Thursday."

Gough will be nearing match fitness by the time England meet India at Chester-le-Street in a day/night match two days after the Headingley clash.

He has missed England's last nine Tests, having opted out of the tours to India and New Zealand before sitting out the recent series win over Sri Lanka with the knee injury.

Gough wore a bandage on his right knee during yesterday's game and had a large ice pack strapped to the problem area after leaving the field.

That was just as a precaution, claimed Gough, whose new ball partner Andrew Caddick is out of the entire one-day series with a rib problem.

Gough added: "I think it will take me another week to get 100 per cent fit, but it was as if I'd never been away because I was straight into some good form.

"Bowling 20 overs a day is a different proposition to a ten-over stint, so the one-dayers have come at a good time for me.

"My overall fitness is good because I've been doing a lot of training, even though I've not been able to play.

"But I wanted to prove I could bowl ten overs off a full run and I did that without even feeling a twinge. It's a great feeling."