England v Pakistan preview: Eoin Morgan expects recovering England stars to fire against tourists in ODI series
Mark Wood, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Morgan himself have all been sidelined through injury recently but all four are set to line up against Pakistan despite a distinct lack of time in the middle
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Your support makes all the difference.Eoin Morgan insists he has no concerns about the match sharpness of his returning players for England's opening one-day international against Pakistan.
Mark Wood, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Morgan himself have all been sidelined through injury recently but all four are set to face the tourists at the Ageas Bowl despite a distinct lack of time in the middle.
Skipper Morgan has yet to play a competitive match since chipping a bone in his finger at the end of July but insists he is fit and ready to take on a Pakistan side buoyed by the thrilling 2-2 draw in this summer's Test series.
"The finger is good," he said. "I've been catching for the last six days at high intensity and batting for the last week so it's been good, it hasn't swollen up.
"I tried to get fit for Middlesex and it didn't react that well, only nine days after the break, so that wasn't the most intelligent thing. But another 10 days on top of that it's been really good.
"All being well I probably would have played one or two 50-over matches, but it doesn't bother me at all."
Wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler has recovered from a broken thumb and all-rounder Ben Stokes is back after a calf injury - although he will only bat in the first two matches.
"I think the break can refresh you," added Morgan. "Jos is fully fit and will definitely play. He's been out for six weeks but again that's not a bad thing. There's a chance he'll be in all the squads in the winter.
"Stokes will not bowl in the first two games. He's fit as a batsman and not as a bowler. We'll look to progress his bowling and hopefully see him bowling towards the back end of the series."
Fast bowler Wood returns after several months of ankle trouble but on the back an impressive performance for Durham on T20 finals day, when he had England team-mate Joe Root hopping around the crease.
"He brings another pace bowler who can bowl over 90mph," said Morgan. "He bowled exceptionally well in the T20. I have sympathy for Joe, we've all been there. It was a great day.
"Seeing guys come back in and bowl 90-plus at one of the best batsmen in the world, you'd pay a lot of money to see that.
"Joe just said it as it is. 'He got the better of me'."
Morgan revealed England are considering playing three spinners at some point during the series so Hampshire left-arm spinner Liam Dawson could come into the XI for his first ODI cap alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.
Morgan also confirmed a briefing will be held on Thursday to discuss possible security concerns over the winter tour to Bangladesh.
PA.
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