JASON Gillespie admits he is set for a couple of sleepless nights following Liam Plunkett's return to fitness after a thigh injury.

The England fast bowler made his first-team return after a month on the sidelines during Yorkshire's NatWest T20 Blast clash with Derbyshire at Chesterfield today.

Plunkett, 30, has only played one LV= County Championship match since last May, having played Test cricket for England against Sri Lanka and India last summer before being ruled out from July onwards with an ankle problem.

He was also banned from Yorkshire's Championship win over Hampshire at Headingley in May, having missed a pre-match training session and photo call.

The former Durham quick bowler played his only Championship match of this season against Somerset at Taunton later in the month, taking 2-101 before being called up to England's one-day series against New Zealand.

But he is set to play in Yorkshire's next Championship match against Worcestershire at Scarborough, starting on Sunday – despite Yorkshire having won their last four matches without him.

Gillespie was speaking about the challenges of managing the revolving door that is England player availability, brought into focus for Yorkshire all the more this summer.

"People bang on about this distraction – but we're a squad," said the Australian.

"The lads are well aware there are going to be times when someone has to miss out. We've got lads representing their country and we have a real squad mentality, which is vital in my opinion.

"It does make for difficult decisions at times. We've got Liam Plunkett potentially coming back for our next game. Who do I leave out? That's going to give me a sleepless night or two.

"However, the lads are all fully aware and understand that we do have a big squad and it comes down to us doing the best we can to manage this group of players."

Plunkett's extra pace will be extremely useful on a Scarborough pitch which generally offers good pace and carry.

With it being difficult to work out which seamer will be left out, it could be that Gillespie and Andrew Gale opt to go with an all-seam attack, should Adil Rashid not be available due to England duty.

Gale, who is just as pleased to see Plunkett available for Twenty20 cricket again, said: "There's not many guys who bowl 90mph around the country. I've faced him in the nets and it's not nice.

"We need to preserve him and make sure that when he plays, he's brought back the right way.

"In those first few games he played, he bowled in the middle and bowled aggressively and picked up wickets. We have missed that extra pace. He is also a gun fielder and hits the ball out of the park at the death."