Matt Prior insists he is still on course to be fit to play in Sussex’s next Championship match after speaking for the first time about his injury woes.

The England wicketkeeper played in Sussex’s opening Championship match against Middlesex – scoring a century – but has not featured since due to an Achilles problem.

Prior is targeting the next Championship match against Middlesex at Merchant Taylor’s School and the following game against Nottinghamshire at Hove to prove his fitness ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka next month.

Prior said: “I am quite confident that I will be playing against Middlesex in the next Championship game whether that is as a batsman or a wicketkeeper.

“I am very close. It has been a very frustrating injury in the way I have gone three steps forward and five back but it is certainly making progress and the last few days have been fantastic from that point of view.

“The thing about an Achilles injury is that no one really knows exactly what is the best way to treat it.

“I’m trying everything I can though. Brighton and Hove Albion have been fantastic letting me use their anti-gravity running machine and I’ve been in at 8am most days in the pool with the physio so I can get back on the field as soon as I can.”