Cricket: All-rounder needs scan on hip injury.

ANDREW Flintoff will undergo a scan on his injured hip this afternoon to assess both his short and long-term fitness prospects.

Flintoff, 31, has a suspected muscle tear in his right hip which, despite not preventing him bowling in the third Test, could yet put his participation in the rest of the series in jeopardy.

His state of health was serious enough for fellow all-rounder Ravi Bopara and uncapped pace bowler Amjad Khan to be summoned from England Lions' tour of New Zealand this morning.

The pair will link up with the 16-man squad in Barbados this coming weekend.

"They are coming because Fred has hurt himself and will be here as soon as possible," said assistant coach Andy Flower. "We don't know what the injury is at this stage and an MRI scan will give us more information.

"The medical guys think there might be a little tear there, they're not sure, but it is a muscle problem in his hip."

Flintoff only returned from a long-term ankle injury for the second Test of four against South Africa last summer.

"Fred works really hard at his fitness but I think through workload and wear and tear over the years he keeps picking up these little injuries," said Flower.

"He is a strong bloke both physically and mentally and he will get himself right hopefully."

With the first of two back-to-back Tests starting in Bridgetown next Thursday, however, Flintoff's latest injury setback is a blow to England's hopes for the current series. Flintoff remains crucial to balancing the side and the very fact that the England management team have called in two reinforcements highlights the complication of accounting for his absence.

England are also monitoring his overall workload at the start of a crammed 2009 calendar including a home Ashes campaign.

The one chance for a rest period ahead of the summer was theoretically removed by Flintoff's decision to play for Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings for three weeks in April.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board are committed to ensuring all centrally-contracted players pass fitness tests before competing on the subcontinent.

CAPTION(S):

INJURY BLOW Andrew Flintoff.