Steve Finn insists reports of the bowler being unavailable for England's tour of South Africa are not the case.

The Watford-born fast bowler has a foot injury which is the reason he has been left out of England's Test squad for the four-match series in South Africa.

But Finn is hopeful of still featuring during the tour and used social media to correct reports he is ruled out of the entire series.

Finn tweeted: "Reports of my South Africa tour being written off completely. Not the case, I am hoping to be available sooner rather than later."

Finn has failed to recover from the foot injury which forced him out of England's recent series against Pakistan.

England have named a 16-man squad for the tour which sees the team arrive in South Africa on December 11.

The squad will play a couple of warm-up games before the first Test takes pace in Durban on December 26.

But the final Test starts on January 22 and Finn is hoping his recovery will enable him to play some part in the series.

The 26-year-old Middlesex bowler made an impressive return to the international Test fold this summer in the Ashes and was expected to play an important role for the team in South Africa.

Former Parmiter's School pupil Finn took 12 wickets during three Tests for England against Australia.