IT is hard to believe that, this time last week, Liam Plunkett was facing up to the very real possibility his season was over because of a mystery injury.

An innocuous groin strain had turned into a serious problem for the Teessider and was baffling the experts, who warned that surgery and a lengthy recuperation period were needed.

A little more than seven days later, however, and Plunkett is back in the Durham side and ripping through Worcestershire’s batting in a manner which made light of the loss of Stephen Harmison and Graham Onions to the England Lions.

Plunkett’s early-season displays, as well as the whispers from inside the Durham set-up, had suggested the fast bowler was starting rediscover his best form – and more importantly the self-belief – which first earned him a place in the England team four years ago. This performance added plenty of weight to that argument.

Launched into the international arena as a raw 20-year-old, Plunkett has had problems on and off the pitch ever since, although it has been injuries and a loss of confidence which has done the major damage.