Vaughan warns: Flintoff only has one more chance at saving his career

England Test captain Michael Vaughan believes injury-plagued Andrew Flintoff is in the "last chance saloon" as far as his England career is concerned after undergoing a fourth ankle operation.

Flintoff has embarked on another rehabilitation programme and is convinced ankle surgeon Niek van Dijk has finally cured his long-standing ankle problem.

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Vaughan, speaking on talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, said he hoped Flintoff would make a full recovery and be able to extend his England career.

"I just want to see him back playing," said Vaughan. "I know he's going through a tough period. He's over in America in rehab for his ankle.

"I think it's his fourth ankle operation. It's his 'last chance saloon' and we should all get behind him and give him every opportunity to try and come back." Vaughan admits Flintoff's availability is crucial in terms of being able to field a balanced England side.

"I want him back in the England team because without him we're a lot less of a side. We need Freddie back in that side batting at six or seven, bowling like he can, hitting the ball like he can," said the Yorkshire batsman.

"He's a great person to have around the team and I'm certainly looking forward to getting him back in there, hopefully sometime next year.

"With Freddie in the side you guarantee yourself five bowlers. With Freddie not in the side you're changing the formula into four bowlers and maybe a fifth bowler in Colly (Paul Collingwood) or myself or Kevin Pietersen.

"Freddie is the key to getting five bowlers in the side. it's not to say that without Freddie we can't be successful. It just helps when you have him in the side."