Andrew Flintoff's planned return to action with Lancashire for a pre-season tournament has delighted team-mate Mal Loye.

Freddie is currently warm weather training in South Africa, as he continues rehab from a fourth ankle operation.

He is expected to feature in Lancashire's games in the Pro Arch Series in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, before spending the opening part of the new county season at Old Trafford.

Loye, who himself missed the last two months of last season due a slipped disc, told the club's website that having Freddie was "almost like having the best overseas signing in the world."

He said: "He is arguably the best cricketer in the world when he is bowling and batting well.

"He has had a long break as well from the game - and he is keen and hungry to put things right for himself. Having him in the side makes a real difference. It is almost like having the best overseas signing in the world.

"He has got that real natural presence. He is popular with the lads, and what he does on the field is a huge asset.

"It is all about how long we are going to have him for. If he does extremely well, the ankle is fine, then that will be it - he will be with England for the rest of the year."

Lancashire are due to face the UAE national side as well as Essex, Yorkshire and defending county champions Sussex between March 14-21. The competition involves Division One newcomers Somerset in a 50-over Friends Provident Trophy format under floodlights.

There will be a total of 12 games played between March 12-28 at both the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi and the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Sharjah.

Loye is on course to return from a back injury on Lancashires pre-season training camp to the United Arab Emirates in March.

The 35 year-old has been out of action since suffering a slipped disk just moments before the Twenty20 Cup semi-final against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston on August 4.