STEPHEN Harmison's Ashes dreams received a major boost yesterday when Darren Gough admitted he could miss the first two Test matches in Australia through injury.

Harmison and Glamorgan's Simon Jones were jostling for one position in the England team, but Gough's possible absence with his long-standing knee problem will move the Durham paceman up the pecking order.

After an impressive England debut against India at Trent Bridge in August, 23-year-old Harmison was surprisingly left out for the final two Tests of the summer.

His omission angered Ian Botham in particular, but captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher's decision to try to blow Australia away with pace opened the Ashes door for Harmison.

Now, with the talismanic Gough admitting he is well short of full fitness, the Ashington Express has a good chance of playing in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on November 7.

Gough, 32, said: "If I miss the first two Tests but am there for the rest of the winter, I'll be happy.

"From what I have been told, it's not a case of me being fit from the start of the tour.

"It's a case of going out and doing the work I've been doing while I'm there, and we'll see how it's going after two or three weeks.

"I would like to be going to the fourth Test in Melbourne not having lost the series. It's something we haven't managed to do the last two times we have been there.

"England have obviously missed me. I know that, when I'm bowling well, I'm the best bowler in the country."