Flower confident Pietersen will fully recover for Ashes

London: England coach Andy Flower is confident team`s premier Test batsman, Kevin Pietersen`s knee problem will not prevent him playing a full part in the forthcoming Ashes summer.

Pietersen flew home before the start of the third Test against New Zealand in Auckland, in which Matt Prior`s seventh Test century steered England to safety, for further investigation into the cause of the pain in his right knee that he first felt in Queenstown last month. Flower said Pietersen has had a further scan, which confirms a bone injury and bone bruising, and he is being put in a brace for two weeks. Flower added Pietersen would be off exercise, or any impact exercise, after that for another couple of weeks and then he would start his rehabilitation. Pietersen has already been forced to withdraw from his Indian Premier League commitments with the Delhi Daredevils but Flower suggested he would be fit for the return two-Test series against New Zealand at Lord`s and Headingley before England host the ICC Champions Trophy in June and then defend the Ashes from July. ANI