WORCESTERSHIRE’S Simon Jones is trying to keep his spirits up after being told he is unlikely to play again this season.

The 29-year-old pace ace requires exploratory surgery after a scan revealed cartilage damage to his right knee.

But, unlike his previous knee injuries, the 2005 England Ashes hero insists this is not serious. “These things happen,” Jones said. “I’m going to a see a specialist and see what needs to be done.

“It’s likely that I’m going to be out for three to four weeks and by then the season has pretty much gone.”

It is sad news for Jones in his comeback season after two injury-plagued campaigns, but he has been pleased with his progress.

Having made the switch from Glamorgan to New Road over the winter, Jones has taken 42 Championship wickets at 18.02 and had made England’s preliminary 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy next month.

“I’ve been delighted with how the season has gone,” he said. “But this is just one of those things — nothing to get worried about.”

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes had hoped to get his prize asset through to the end of the season and, while Jones will miss the final four games of the campaign, Rhodes has been delighted with the bowler’s contributions this term.

“Simon has had a wonderful year with a strike rate of a wicket every 30 deliveries,” he said. “The plan was to have him still playing in September and, while this has not quite been achieved, I am delighted with his contribution.

“The plan will be to get Simon back fitter and stronger for the cricket that lies ahead of him.”

All this will come as a blow to the LVCC Division Two leaders as they prepare to face Essex at Colchester tomorrow.

Worcestershire are 10 points clear at the top, but Rhodes is remaining cautious ahead of this game with the Friends Provi-dent Trophy winners.

“There are four games to go — that is a quarter of the season,” he said. “It’s great to be in this position but we can’t take anything for granted.”

Essex all-rounder Jamie Middlebrook will be aiming to put the disappointment of being dropped for the Trophy final ag-ainst Kent behind him when he returns for this game.

The hosts will be without Ravi Bopara and Alastair Cook, on England duty and have named the same side that drew at Warwickshire last week.

ESSEX (from): Pettini (capt), Gallian, Chopra, Napier, Flower, Foster (wkt), ten Doeschate, Middlebrook, Wright, Masters, Kaneria, Westley.

WORCESTERSHIRE (from): Mitchell, Moore, Solanki (capt), Smith, Hick, Davies (wkt), Batty, Kabir, Mason, Arif, Andrew, Moeen.