The Durham all-rounder is suffering from a lower back problem less than a week before the Lord's contest against New Zealand.

He was also due to have an injection in an ongoing right shoulder injury last night.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose is also troubled with a stiff neck, and received treatment rather than take the field for Warwickshire yesterday.

But England one-day captain Collingwood will provide a headache for a new-look panel headed by Geoff Miller.

"Paul has received treatment for stiffness in his lower back and a sore right shoulder," said an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson.

"He will continue to receive treatment and be reassessed over the next 48 hours."

Collingwood, 31, would be an integral part of any plans to field Andrew Flintoff in a four-man attack in the series opener.

His most redeeming quality as an international batsman is an ability to tough things out in difficult times.

He said: "It's a bonus if you can come out and score hundred after hundred every innings.

"Realistically it's not going to work that way and you come up against difficult conditions.

"Runs would be good to get that confidence going but I'll back myself to go out there and score out in the middle when the time comes.

"I am sure that everybody has got me down as the first one off the team sheet but I am a battler.

"It is disappointing not to score runs but the big ones could be just around the corner."

Collingwood's last hundred in England whites came 10 Tests ago while Vaughan is also under pressure for a score after an off-colour series in victory in New Zealand.

Two runs in as many innings against the students of Bradford and Leeds preceded 95 in three County Championship efforts - each time starting well before falling when set.

But he does have a good personal record at Lord's, the scene of five of his 17 Test hundreds.

Possible squad: Vaughan (captain), Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Bopara, Flintoff, Ambrose (wicketkeeper), Broad, Sidebottom, Panesar, Anderson.
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