Dodgy knee pushes back Jones' return from injury.

PACEMAN Simon Jones has been forced to delay his comeback from knee surgery with Worcestershire until the end of the month.

Jones, one of England's 2005 Ashes heroes, had been hoping to return for the LV County Championship match with Yorkshire at New Road starting on June 16.

But the 30-year-old has undergone a scan after progress in terms of his rehabilitation was notably slower than had been hoped for.

Now the Royals are targeting Jones playing in the Second XI Trophy game with MCC Young Cricketers at Radlett on June 30 for his first action of the campaign although they are still awaiting the results of the scan.

Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes confirmed: "Simon's rehab has been slower than we expected and he has gone for a scan to assess where he is at.

"We are now hoping he can play in the Second XI Trophy game at the end of the month."

Jones picked up 42 Championship wickets in nine games in his first season at Worcestershire last summer and helped them gain promotion to Division One.

But the former Glamorgan player, who has a history of injury problems, underwent knee surgery in September after missing the final month of the 2008 season and had to again go under the knife at the start of the current campaign.