Matthew Hoggard's knee injury is likely to keep the Yorkshire and England strike bowler out of action for days rather than weeks.

That was the good news which Hoggard received today from Yorkshire physiotherapist Scott McAllister when the results of a scan on the paceman's right knee revealed that he had jarred the joints but had done no serious damage to the ligaments or muscles.

Hoggard sustained the injury in Yorkshire Phoenix's match against Middlesex Crusaders at Headingley on Sunday and there were fears at the time that he could have torn his cartilage which would have meant a long lay-off.

But Hoggard may now even be fit to play in Yorkshire's totesport League game against Durham at Riverside on Sunday.

The main concern, however, is to make sure that he is in prime condition for Yorkshire's semi-final clash with Gloucestershire at Bristol in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy on Saturday week and then the first Test between England and the West Indies at Lord's the following Thursday.

"Matthew was very pleased and also relieved when I was able to give him the results of the scan today and he said he was already feeling an improvement," said McAllister.

"There is some swelling around the knee and he could experience problems for a day or two but that should soon resolve itself.

"He may possibly be fit for the weekend but if that is too soon he could play in one of next week's Twenty20 matches. The important thing is not to rush him back.

"Both Yorkshire and England are delighted with the news but nobody is more so than Matthew himself who was worried that he could be out for a longer period of time."

Meanwhile, Yorkshire are confident that they will have captain Craig White and Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey both back in action at Riverside on Sunday.

Harvey has not played since suffering a badly torn hamstring in the Championship game with Nottinghamshire in mid-May while White has been out with a similar injury which he picked up just over a fortnight ago.

Their return will come as a huge relief to Yorkshire who want to have both these key players back in full form and fitness for the C&G semi-final.

"Craig and Ian are making reasonable progress and we are closely monitoring their recovery," said Byas.

"They are having net practices and training this week and if all goes well they will fit into the team at Riverside.

"If it is felt they still need more time in the middle they can play for the Second XI in their Trophy game with Derbyshire at Castleford next Tuesday then the Twenty-20s over the following two days. That should mean they will have plenty of cricket behind them when it comes to the big game at Bristol."

Things have not run smoothly for Harvey since he joined Yorkshire at the beginning of the season from Gloucestershire where he was instrumental in helping them win six one-day trophies in five years. Now he wants to show their fans that he is still as big a force in the game as he was during his five years with the county.

Should Harvey prove to be over his hamstring problem, then Phil Jaques will return to New South Wales on July 18 - provided that nothing happens to Darren Lehmann during Australia's second Test against Sri Lanka over the next few days.

But Jaques, who has performed brilliantly for Yorkshire since arriving in mid-May as a temporary replacement for both Lehmann and then Harvey, will be back in late August ahead of the ICC Trophy in this country in September.

Lehmann is certain to be in Australia's squad for the tournament and there is a fair chance that Harvey will also be included.