Barbados (West Indies), Feb. 27: England all rounder Andrew Flintoff laments the fact that unlike other players he never gets a niggle, but always a full blown and proper injury.

Flintoff, who is out of the Fourth Test against the West Indies being played here, is suffering from a muscle tear to his right hip.

He is to have another scan today which will indicate whether the likelihood of him being fit in time to play in the fifth Test in Trinidad is non-existent or merely slim.

"It''s frustrating," The Sun quotes him as saying in an understated manner.

In two brilliant years, 2004 and 2005, he anointed himself unequivocally as England''s finest all-rounder and most potent talisman since Ian Botham.

Notwithstanding Kevin Pietersen, England still have no greater weapon than a fit and firing Freddie.

This is the 60th Test he has missed since making his debut in 1998, a grim statistic

"Well, it certainly doesn''t seem like I ever just get a niggle," he said, grimly. "It''s a proper injury every time."

"By the time the IPL comes along I''ll be fit. It''s not an injury that will take weeks, or that needs an operation," The Independent quotes him, as saying.

Would he contemplate withdrawing from the IPL if doctors advised him that the wham-bam nature of 20/20 might aggravate old injuries? "That''s all ifs and buts, I''m only concerned about my immediate fitness," he said. (ANI)