Matthew Hoggard looks to have lost his battle to be fit for next week's third npower Test against West Indies after suffering a recurrence of his thigh problems.

The 29-year-old Yorkshire seamer has been struggling to overcome the thigh strain which restricted him to only 10.1 overs during the drawn opening Test at Lord's and forced him to sit out last week's emphatic second Test victory at Headingley.

He was expected to be fit for next week's third encounter in the series at Old Trafford and was hoping to prove his fitness by playing club cricket for Baildon tomorrow before featuring for Yorkshire in Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy match against Durham.

But Hoggard felt some discomfort during a short net session at Headingley on Wednesday, which was monitored by Yorkshire physiotherapist Scott McAllister, and has now been ruled out of contention for the weekend.

Without any match practice to test his problem, Hoggard will not be considered for next week's Test at Old Trafford on a wicket which is expected to be fast and bouncy and ideal for seam bowlers.

''It's extremely disappointing for Matthew, but it's one of those type of injuries that if you rush back before you're ready it can turn into a serious problem,'' confirmed chairman of selectors David Graveney.

''Caution is a by-word for us and hopefully the extra time will help him recover and be back playing cricket sooner rather than later.''

It leaves Hoggard facing a race against time to be fit and feature in Yorkshire's two matches over the next 10 days and prove his fitness for England's final Test against West Indies at Chester-le-Street starting on June 15.

Yorkshire face Kent in a championship match next Wednesday and their only other fixture is a Friends Provident Trophy match against Northamptonshire at Headingley - just two days before the start of the final Test.

In Hoggard's absence, England have found an able deputy in Nottinghamshire's Ryan Sidebottom, who claimed eight wickets at Headingley on his first Test appearance in six years.

Sidebottom looks certain to retain his place in the squad, which will be announced by Graveney on Sunday morning, with England expected to name an unchanged 12-man squad following Hoggard's impending withdrawal.

Marlon Samuels has been called up to replace injured captain Ramnaresh Sarwan for the remainder of their Test series against England.

Sarwan, who injured his shoulder during an innings-and-283-run defeat at Headingley, was this week ruled out for the final two Tests, two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals in which the Windies still have to face England this summer.

Sarwan's deputy Daren Ganga will be promoted to captain following the new skipper's departure while Samuels, 26, will fill the breach in the batting order.