Harmison is making good progress in his rehabilitation

Harmison, who had a hernia operation on 17 July, is desperate to face Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final.

"I hope to return the week before. I have been running for the last four or five days," he told Radio Five Live.

"But I don't want to come back too soon and risk going through the rigmarole of breaking down again."

Harmison first felt the problem during the final Test against West Indies in June but England's medical staff felt he would still be able to play in the Tests against India and then the Friends Provident Trophy final before having surgery.

I still had a bit to give in Test matches which is why I wanted to play through the hernmia problem Steve Harmison

But he suffered a recurrence of the problem during Durham's Championship match against Sussex and had to have surgery.

Harmison was disappointed not to have been able to face India because he thought he was regaining his best form after a difficult winter and home series against West Indies.

"i've had a pretty decent summer but the only bad times I've bowled have been in Test matches," he told the BBC's Sportsweek programme.

"I still had a bit to give in Test matches which is why I wanted to play through the hernmia problem because I was just starting to hit proper form.

"But these decisions come back to bite you and it certainly did at Sussex when I fell over."

The 28-year-old has retired from one-day internationals so is next due to appear in an England shirt on the winter tour of Sri Lanka in November and December.