Vaughan hopes England can bounce back from defeat in Pakistan

The 31-year-old batsman returned home early from Pakistan to have surgery on the knee problem he suffered in the warm-up match before the first Test.

"The injury is fine. I've taken a really positive step in the last two weeks and been able to work hard on the machines for two or three hours a day.

"I don't think it will be a problem for me getting on the plane with the rest of the lads in February," he said.

Vaughan, who was operated on last month, struggled through the second and third Tests in Pakistan before missing the one-day series.

It feels a lot better than it did before the operation so that's a positive sign Vaughan on his knee

He is set to be named on Friday in the squad for the three-Test series in India and the seven one-dayers which follow.

The Yorkshire star refused to get too carried away but was upbeat about leading his team when they depart in just under five weeks' time.

"The next step is going on the hard surfaces to run - that's going to be the real challenge, twisting and turning," he explained.

"But it feels a lot better than it did before the operation so that's a positive sign."

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After losing the Test and one-day series in Pakistan, many are predicting an even tougher assignment for Vaughan's men in India.

The skipper agrees with that assessment, saying: "The heat will be a bigger factor in India - in Pakistan it was mild - and we're expecting 100-degree heat.

"Their batting line-up is formidable, a bit deeper than Pakistan's, and they have two great spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

"They are very hard to beat on home soil, only Australia have beaten them in the last few years, so it's a massive challenge for the team."

Hopefully we can go to India a little bit wiser Matthew Hoggard

But despite that, Vaughan believes his side can bounce back from their Pakistan disappointment.

"I'm not writing off our chances, we have to try to give them a fright," he added. "We've got to make sure we learn from our mistakes in Pakistan, try to get everyone fit and give it our best shot."

England's batsmen were criticised for being too impatient on the first part of their winter double-header.

A series of rash shots saw the tourists collapse spectacularly on several occasions but paceman Matthew Hoggard feels they will avoid those pitfalls this time.

"We have a very inexperienced middle order," he said. "I don't think any had played much on the sub-continent.

"So the Tests in Pakistan will help them to understand where the oppposition are going to bowl to them, where their best shots are and scoring options.