Kevin Pietersen could miss all of England's tour of South Africa, team director Andy Flower has admitted.
The 10-week tour starts in November and Pietersen faces a race against time as he continues to recover from problems arising from his Achilles operation.
"I'm not sure if he's going to be fit enough to start the tour," said Flower. "We've got to play it by ear.
"It's possible he'll miss the whole tour. The wound hasn't healed very well, or very quickly."
Pietersen, 29, limped through the opening two Ashes Tests earlier this summer before deciding to have an operation on the troublesome tendon.
England had optimistically hoped to have him back for the Champions Trophy, which starts this week, but the South Africa-born star picked up an infection in his Achilles following the surgery.
Flower described it as "quite a horrible wound", but said he was hopeful Pietersen would start the tour, adding: "Our medical people are on top of the situation."
England fly out to the Champions Trophy on Monday night without their two biggest names - Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.
Flintoff is recovering from an operation on a persistent knee problem and recently turned down the offer of an incremental England contract, leaving him free to take up lucrative offers from overseas sides.
Flower said he was not surprised by Flintoff's decision, but maintained his belief the all-rounder would stick to his word and put his England commitments ahead of any contract he may sign with a club franchise.
"I haven't chatted to him just recently, but let's wait and see how fit he gets and when he comes back first," said Flower.
"Fred (Flintoff) has made himself available for one-day international and Twenty20 cricket. So I'll take him on his word that he's going to be available.
"As far as I understand it, he wants to play for England again in one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket and I look forward to having him back and I'm sure he'll be fully committed when he comes back."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?