Darren Gough hopes to come back better than ever from his career-threatening knee injury.

The 32-year-old Yorkshire and England fast bowler was fearing the worst last week as he prepared to travel to the United States for a consultation with specialist Richard Steadman.

But he has returned in much more optimistic mood, having learned he will not need a fourth operation on his knee.

He said: ''I still believe when I come back I will be the same Darren Gough who left and I will be fitter and stronger.''

Gough, recently forced to fly home from England's Ashes tour, believes in retrospect he ought to have avoided the temptation to rush back last summer.

The result was a fleeting cameo in England's mid-summer NatWest Series one-day campaign - then a recurrence of the injury which has since ruined his winter.

''I should probably have said 'I am not going to play this summer and I will get my leg back strong','' he said.

''But you are always under pressure to get back on the field, from yourself as much as other people.

''Now it is time for me to take time out and make sure I'm right.''

Gough is delighted with his improved prognosis.

''It is great news. I thought I would have to have surgery, but the doctor said I didn't need it - just rehab."

He is now daring to hope he might even be fit for the start of next season if his rehabilitation exercises are successful.

''I am not sure where I am going to go to do the work. I can't run yet."

England have completed their preparations for the third Test by instilling their squad with the self-belief that Australia's powerful line-up can be beaten, despite their impressive home record.

Australia have not lost a home Test since being beaten by England at Melbourne nearly four years ago, and having claimed emphatic victories during the opening two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide, they are now expected to claim only the second Ashes whitewash in history.

With the third Test taking place on a Perth pitch rated as the quickest in nearly 20 years, that should also favour an Australian side including the pace battery of Jason Gillespie and the explosive Brett Lee.

But since they slumped to an innings and 51-run defeat in Adelaide, England have held a series of crisis meetings and have underlined the message that, as impressive as Australia are, they can be beaten.

''I still think they can do it - nobody's invincible,'' stressed coach Duncan Fletcher. ''The guys have got a belief they can go out and win this Test match.

''On a given day if we play to our ability then we've got a chance. All the guys have to do is make sure those periods of concentration and those periods of good cricket are extended.''

History does not suggest that England can fight back from here in Perth - where they have won only one Test - to win the series during the three remaining Tests which are separated by the first half of the one-day triangular series beginning in a fortnight.

Only one side has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win an Ashes series - and that was the 1936-7 Australian side led by Don Bradman in the first year of his captaincy. Yet the tourists are determined to remain upbeat.

Captain Nasser Hussain and Fletcher have stressed the need to stay positive in the build-up to the match during several team meetings, while the skipper has also taken control of net practices to offer encouragement to some of the shell-shocked youngsters.

They include Matthew Hoggard, who has claimed only one wicket in the series so far and only three in the last four Tests, while several other key performers have not contributed enough.

''We can hide behind the excuses that we've got a lot of problems in the camp, but the truth is we are not performing to the level we should be,'' admitted Hoggard. ''Everybody in the team should be looking at their own games.''

The injuries which have disrupted England's Test preparations may also cloud their selection of a one-day squad.

England are due to announce a 16-man squad as soon as the Test is over, but the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is still uncertain.

Steve Waugh closes in on another impressive record during the third Test admitting his formidable Australian line-up have now become so proficient at winning that the team almost runs itself.

Should Australia clinch victory at the WACA and retain the Ashes, it will be Waugh's 32nd triumph in the 42 Tests since taking over as captain from Mark Taylor in 1999 - equalling Allan Border's record for the most Test wins as captain.