Mark Wood targeting England return after injury hell

Mark Wood is targeting a return to the England team for this summer’s Champions Trophy after putting his injury nightmare behind him.

The fast bowler is fit to play for Durham for the start of the County Championship season which starts on Friday after recovering from an ankle injury.

Wood was forced to miss last year's tour of India after having an operation on a stress fracture, the third time he has had surgery in the space of 12 months.

And the 27-year-old admitted it had been a "tough" winter mentally but he is ready to win back his place for the one-day tournament, which is live on Sky Sports.

"Mentally it's been quite a tough winter but I had a good breakthrough in Dubai and got some confidence back in Dubai and felt in a good place," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"It's about keep climbing that ladder to get back in the England team in May.

"That's what I got my eye on, the Champions Trophy. The lads in the team at the minute are doing well so it's not I am walking back in the team, I have to prove myself at Durham.

"The lads did well in the West Indies trip, they are in pole position. I hope I have an outside chance and am hoping to push my case."

Durham kick-off their Division Two season against Nottinghamshire on April 14 but will start on minus 48 points after receiving financial support from the England and Wales Cricket Board during the 2016 season which led to them being relegated.

And Wood said the club are looking to make a strong start to claw back the deficit.

He said: "The club has put a hashtag bounce back together slogan out, that's how the lads are feeling.

"Let's give it a good go this year. Essex won the league last year and if they had been deducted points would have finished fifth.

"We knows it's a huge task but we play better when our backs are against the wall. We have obviously got to start well, that's the key."