By Sam Lyon

If I'm not required when I'm fit again, I will go back to Sussex, work hard and I will come back Matt Prior

England wicket-keeper Matt Prior has vowed to return "stronger and better" after a broken thumb ruled him out of October's one-day series in Sri Lanka.

The 25-year-old sustained the injury in training and will be out for six weeks.

His place has been taken by Durham's Phil Mustard, but Prior told BBC Sport: "I'll come back from this.

"I see this six weeks as a chance to improve my game. My goal is to get fit and ready for the Test series, during which I hope to give it a red-hot go."

Prior, who missed out on a central contract earlier this month, has come under pressure for his place after a poor return in the Test and one-day series against India and some low scores in the World Twenty20.

But the Sussex gloveman sustained the broken thumb a day after taking four catches and hitting 32 in the disappointing defeat by South Africa.

He said: "The timing could not have been worse. I have been putting in a lot of hard work between matches after a few sticky innings and in Newlands I really felt like I'd turned a corner.

"But I'll get back to England now, maintain and improve on my fitness, but mainly assess how this summer has gone - what went well and what parts of my game I want to work on."

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In the meantime, Mustard will be looking to take his domestic one-day form - he averages 49.61 for Durham this season - onto the international stage.

But Prior believes he can battle back into the side even if Mustard impresses.

"I hope England go to Sri Lanka and do well, I hope Phil does well, and I hope we come away with the series win - that's the most important thing.

"If that happens and the decision is made that I'm not required when I'm fit again, I will go back to Sussex, work hard and I will come back - that's sport, that's how it works."