LONDON, (Reuters) – England all-rounder Andrew  Flintoff suffered yet another injury setback yesterday when,  days before he was due to return from a year on the sidelines,  he was ruled out of action for the rest of the season.

Flintoff has not played for 12 months following two knee  operations and after withdrawing from a limited-overs game for  Lancashire’s second XI on Monday his county issued a statement  on Tuesday saying that after consultation with the player, his  surgeon and the county’s medical team, he would not play this  season.

“Whist Andrew has made significant progress, the combined  opinion is that he is not quite ready for a return to cricket,”  Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson told the county’s  website (www.lccc.co.uk).

“He will continue his rehabilitation into the winter months  and we will constantly monitor and review his progress so that  he is better equipped for a return to action.”

Flintoff, 32, who has retired from test cricket, had been  hoping to feature in Twenty20 action in India, Australia and New  Zealand during the southern hemisphere summer but his prospects  look slim after the latest in a long line of injury problems.