AFTER four weeks as a stand-in, Carl Hooper will have an air of permanence for the first time in Lancashire's National League game at Derby tomorrow.

The former West Indies captain was signed last month to play until Harbhajan Singh recovered from his finger injury.

But now that Lancashire have terminated the Turbanator's one-year deal following further problems with his finger, Hooper should be here for the rest of the summer.

"It's disappointing that Harbhajan won't be joining us, but at least a firm decision has been taken," explained manager Mike Watkinson.

"We wish him well for the future and trust that he will soon be fully recovered."

Hooper has already made a significant contribution to Lancashire's Championship wins against Kent and Leicestershire, plus one-day victories against Durham, Hampshire and Notts.

He may not be the specialist off-spinner that Lancashire wanted to rival Surrey's Saqlain Mushtaq in the second half of the summer, but he has formed a useful combination with Gary Keedy, whose superb recent form should also soften the blow of losing Harbhajan.

Losing Hooper would also have hit Lancashire's batting strength, especially now that Andrew Flintoff has linked up with England, so maybe Harbhajan's injury is a blessing in disguise - certainly for the series of one-day matches coming up in the next three weeks.

Lancashire do not start their Twenty20 Cup programme until Monday, when they face Notts at Trent Bridge - the first of their five qualifying matches in eight days.

Tomorrow they will stick to the more familiar 50 overs match and attempt to boost their promotion hopes in the National League, although it won't be easy against a Derbyshire team who stunned Surrey last week to join Lancashire in the C&G Trophy semi finals.

As ever, Dominic Cork is the dangerman with the ball but Lancashire will also be wary of Mohammad Kaif, an Indian batsman who hit a brilliant match-winning 81 against Surrey. Alec Swann is set to return to the Lancashire side in place of Flintoff, and with James Anderson away with England, Chris Schofield and Sajid Mahmood are also added to the squad.