Steven Finn’s hopes of featuring for England in South Africa have been boosted with his selection for England Lions in Dubai.

That after the Watford-born paceman, who supports the Hornets, used Watford FC’s facilities to continue his rehabilitation with one eye on the second test in Cape Town, which begins on January 2.

Finn was cruelly denied the chance to continue his Test comeback in the 2-0 series defeat by Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates after suffering the early signs of a stress fracture in his foot during a warm-up match.

The former Parmiter’s School Pupil had made a remarkable return to the Test fold in summer during England’s Ashes win against Australia, playing in three tests before injury struck in the autumn.

Finn joined the England Performance Programme last week and a link-up between the medical staff at the National Cricket Performance Centre and Watford FC has helped his recovery.

The plan is now for the 26-year-old to play against Pakistan A in a Twenty20 match in the next two days as England look to come from behind in the series.

He told the ECB website: “It’s been nice to build it up from just cycling and stuff indoors and using the rehab facilities at Watford to start running outdoors on grass, to a point where I’m bowling off my full run and having no pain in my foot.

“So it feels good at the moment and hopefully the added intensity of the games is another step for me.”

Explaining how he came to use Watford’s facilities in his recovery, Finn said: “I’m lucky enough that when I go to watch Watford I sit in the director’s box and I’ve got to know the chief executive and a few other people there.

“Before I went out to the UAE they’d said I was always welcome to use their rehab facilities.

"Two weeks later I did get injured, and they’ve opened their arms to me.”

He continued: “It’s my boyhood football club that I’ve supported since I can remember.

"The attacking, fluent football they’ve played has been fantastic, and they’re a thoroughly decent bunch of guys who have been so welcoming.

"It seems like they’re set for success for a little while which is very reassuring as a supporter.”