Harmison is still in my plans for England, insists coach Moores

The 29-year-old Durham fast bowler may have thought he was in the running for a recall as a replacement for rival Matthew Hoggard, who suffered a broken left thumb after being accidentally hit by Harmison batting for Yorkshire last week.

But despite an impressive record at Old Trafford - the last five-wicket haul of his 56-Test career was at the ground as part of a match haul of 11 wickets against Pakistan two years ago - Harmison was overlooked with England instead calling up Hampshire's Chris Tremlett.

Recall? Durham's Steve Harmison sits in the stands while having treatment on his foot earlier this month.

It would have come as a major blow to Harmison's hopes, but coach Moores insisted today that he remains in their thoughts once he has recovered his best form playing for Durham.

"Steve has got a good record at Old Trafford, he's a mature performer so he's always going to be talked about," conceded Moores.

"I think we feel that at the moment he needs time in county cricket to bowl and get himself ready to come back.

"I've heard he's been bowling okay, but maybe not fully hitting his straps as best he can.

"When he got left out in New Zealand he was very disappointed, but I also think realistically he knew he wasn't bowling as well as he could bowl and since then he's gone away and decided what he wants to do about it and you start to get a plan together to get back to playing the best cricket you can."

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Harmison is not alone in waiting for his chance to impress with England expected to name an unchanged line-up for the second Test, leaving Tremlett surplus to requirements for the starting line-up.

Having drawn the opening Test at Lord's, England will be keen to make any advantage count at Old Trafford where they expect Ryan Sidebottom, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad to exploit the bounce before Monty Panesar comes into the equation later in the game.

"All we've heard so far is that it will be hard and bouncy a bit like the pitch against West Indies last year," added Moores.

"I'll be really happy if it's the same sort of wicket because it brings everyone into the game."

Old Trafford will also be a test for England's opening partnership between Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, who celebrated their first century stand in 15 Tests opening together at Lord's despite numerous interruptions for rain and bad light.

"I was really pleased with the way they played because they were coming on and off all the time," said Moores.

"Some people have asked whether Andrew Strauss could have batted quicker but I thought he was really composed.

"They had to start their innings again four or five times and to get a hundred partnership like that was a real testament to how they played.

"I thought they ran well between the wickets, we took scoring opportunities and set a really good platform."