Flintoff officially opens The Point building at Old Trafford

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff hopes to be cleared to bowl before the end of the summer as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

Flintoff has not played since England's Ashes win over Australia last summer.

"I've been hitting balls in the nets and over the next few weeks I'll be building up back to bowling," he told BBC Test Match Special.

Flintoff has returned to the UK from his home in Dubai and hopes to resume his Lancashire career this season.

"I've just seen [Lancashire coach] Peter Moores, I'll be catching up with the lads over the next few weeks and try and get in some shape to play," revealed Flintoff at Old Trafford, ahead of England's third one-day international against Australia.

And despite almost 10 months out of the game, Flintoff is convinced he will eventually return to competitive action.

The hunger is still there Andrew Flintoff

"It's something I've come back from in the past," said the 32-year-old, who suffered a setback in his recovery in September when he sustained a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.

"I've had operations on my ankles and my knees before and I've always come back from them. The hunger is still there, so I'll just get on with it."

Flintoff retired from Test cricket last summer after scoring 3,845 runs, at an average of 31.77 over 79 matches, and taking 226 wickets at an average of 32.78.

He still hopes to represent his country again, though.

"Although I'm not going to play Test cricket, there's other forms of the game I can have a go at.

"The way in which in Twenty20 has taken off around the world, I think it 's going to play a big part in the world of cricket, like it is doing already," he added.

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