Nasser Hussain has quickly asserted his authority as England captain by insisting any gamble on Darren Gough's fitness would be worth the risk.

Hussain has waited nearly two years to have Gough available again after a series of knee operations almost ended the Yorkshire bowler's career and left England's attack with a huge void to fill.

Even Gough has sometimes doubted his ability to return to the Test arena since he first sustained the injury in New Zealand two winters ago and it is following a recent return to England's one-day side that selectors have considered him for a Test recall.

The speed of his comeback has surprised some and doubts still remain about Gough's stamina despite delivering 37 overs for Yorkshire last week against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

But while Michael Vaughan began his England captaincy in the recent one-day series, Hussain was quick to demand the return of Gough for the opening Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

''As long as he doesn't fall over between now and tomorrow morning he will be out there,'' said Hussain. ''Picking any bowler in the last couple of years has been a bit of a risk because we have injury scares and doubts - you've seen that with all our bowlers.

''The selectors are willing to take that risk with Darren because he's a proven performer and anyone with the heart and fight and character of Darren Gough is someone that I'm willing to take that risk with.''

After three operations over the last two years on Gough's knee as well as regular ice-treatment and trampette exercises, Hussain accepts both he the selectors are likely to face intense criticism if his main strike bowler breaks down.

''The selectors or myself will come under scrutiny if he doesn't make it through the game,'' Hussain said.

''But I'm quite happy with that decision because he has got the heart and the ticker of someone that you want out there on a cricket field when you're playing for your country. I never doubted he would be back.

''When I saw him in the winter when he was out there doing some work for Sky I saw how much he was missing it and when I went to see him in his room in Brisbane when he had to go back from the Ashes tour, I knew how much of a blow that was to him.

''He craves the limelight and wants to be out there and he will do everything to be back out there. He had literally been told that day that he wouldn't play again so it's a great credit to the lad that he's back.''

While most of the attention has focussed on Gough's return, Yorkshire teammate Anthony McGrath was hit on his left little finger in the nets although he is not expected to miss the Test.

Other than that minor worry, England's build-up to the start of the Test series has gone smoothly with confidence high after their one-day triangular series victory over the tourists and captain Hussain's good form with Essex over the last month.

Hussain averages 81.60 in his five championship innings since last playing for England in the second Test against Zimbabwe in early June, form which is in contrast to South Africa's batsmen in the week since their NatWest Series final mauling at Lord's.

''Someone like Herschelle Gibbs is a class, proven performer and at the moment they are struggling in English conditions but that doesn't make them bad players,'' added Hussain.

''What we've got to make sure and hopefully a few counties will help us as well, is that they don't get used to the conditions quickly and they don't find their form quickly because they are all good players.''