England fast bowler James Kirtley is poised to give Sussex a boost by returning from injury ahead of schedule.

Kirtley broke his hand during practice before a one-day international at Old Trafford four weeks ago when he was hit by a ball from Gloucestershire's Jeremy Snape.

The county's vice-captain was told he may not be able to play until the end of August, but he has made a quick recovery and there is even a chance he could return on Monday in the day-night National League game against Gloucestershire at Hove.

Kirtley will play for Eastbourne in the Sussex League today and, providing he suffers no reaction, he will train under lights with the rest of the squad tomorrow evening.

Kirtley said: "I am ahead of schedule but I'm not going to get too carried away.

"I haven't fielded any balls yet and although I can hide a bit in the field today that won't be the case under lights if I've got to try and run Ian Harvey out or something.

"We'll see how it goes and I'll sit down with (coach) Peter Moores and make a decision tomorrow."

The county badly need a fully fit Kirtley in the last six weeks of the season as they battle to stay in the top flight in the Championship and haul themselves off the bottom of Division Two in the National League.

Kirtley took 28 wickets in six Championship games before linking-up with the England squad for the triangular tournamentand he has taken 16 wickets in one-day cricket for the county this summer.

Off-spinner Mark Davis will have a fitness test on the hand be broke at Taunton a fortnight ago tomorrow, but he is rated only 50-50 for a return on Monday.

Skipper Chris Adams has had intensive treatment on his calf strain all week, but he is unlikely to be risked in the two day-nighters which preceed the important Championship match against leaders Surrey.

Michael Yardy knee ligaments) is still at least a week away from being considered for selection.

Adams said: "There is still a lot to play for and we have targetted the day-nighters at Hove as games we can win, especially as they come in a cluster. I don't think we are the worst one-day side and we don't want to finish bottom of the pile."