Flintoff heads to Dubai to recuperate.

Byline: Richard Gibson

INJURED England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff last night revealed he is to spend a couple of months recuperating in Dubai.

Flintoff, 31, is in the early stages of a rehabilitation programme, following microfracture surgery on his right knee, and will move his family out to the United Arab Emirates in the build-up to Christmas.

"It's always easier doing rehabilitation in warm weather and that's the main reason why we've decided to go to Dubai," said Flintoff (pictured below). "Three years ago when I was recovering from my ankle, we all went to Florida as a family and it worked really well and I see this being a similar situation.

"I can't drive for at least another six weeks, so it will difficult getting from A to B and doing my rehabilitation without relying on someone else to drive if I stayed in England. Where we are staying in Dubai, all I have to do is press the right button in the lift to get from our apartment to the gym and everything I need is on the doorstep. It is also a chance to get away from things as a family and enjoy a bit of a break. It has been a hard summer and I think we will all benefit from a few weeks in the sun."

Flintoff will work with former England physio Dave Roberts, one of his close friends, and surgeon Andy Williams will also be kept informed of his recovery.

Despite suffering deep vein thrombosis as a by-product of the surgery, he has been given the all-clear to fly.

"I had a stiff calf and it got progressively worse," said Flintoff, who is on a course of anti-coagulants and will be on crutches for a minimum of one more month. "I spent the night in hospital, but it's more of a complication than something that's really going to affect my rehabilitation.

Roberts, who has helped Flintoff recover from four ankle operations and knee surgery earlier this year, said: "So far, the specialist and I are happy with him and we are confident the DVT problem is being treated and we can look forward now. "It will be a long, hard road for him, but we have been through this before and we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think we could get where we want to be."