England fast bowler Mark Wood said he is optimistic about a comeback to the England XI in the fifth Test against India. Wood is currently undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery that he underwent in March.

Since his surgery, Wood was ruled out for the entire English summer. But on Friday, he expressed hope of a much earlier return. The fifth Test is scheduled at the Oval on July 31, and his comeback in the match would possibly see him make the cut for the Ashes Down Under later this year.

The 35-year-old pacer limped out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year with medial ligament damage in his left knee and underwent surgery in March. Right after the surgery, it came out that he needed a four-month recovery period, which effectively ruled him out of featuring in the five Tests against Shubman Gill's India, which began at Headingley on Friday.

However, Wood is now hopeful of a comeback in the final Test at the Oval. Prior to that, he is expected to play in the County Championship for Durham in an away fixture in Somerset.

"Rehab is going well," Wood told BBC Test Match Special. "I've just started bowling very lightly, so I'm on the comeback trail now officially. I'm hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I'm still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute, that's still my focus — that I might play a part."

"It's been a bit slow [coming back] to start with. I haven't been able to do a lot, but it's starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in. Hopefully not too much longer. [I am] still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I'll just wait and see," he added.

England would not like to hurry Wood's return given the Ashes tour of Australia on the horizon and the fact that their pace options have been limited by injury. Olly Stone's own knee injury ruled him out of the entire Test season, while Gus Atkinson was not available for the first India Test after suffering a hamstring strain against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer has also been recovering from an injury, with the England management optimistic he could be available for the second Test in Birmingham, starting on July 2.

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