KENT'S former England spinner Min Patel has put his latest injury nightmare behind him and is on the road back to a full recovery.

Patel suffered the second long-term injury of his career earlier this year and was ruled out of first team action for the whole of last season after having surgery on a slipped disc.

The 33-year-old was restricted to playing half a dozen county 2nd XI matches and Kent League games for Bexley following an operation in April. He was concerned there was still a problem with his back, but has now been given the all-clear from specialists and is progressing slowly towards fitness.

Patel, who also spent a long time on the treatment table with a knee injury earlier in his career, said: "During the summer my back hadn't felt right, so I was pretty keen for another scan.

"I had it a fortnight ago and have been told that there are no more problems with the discs and that the pain and reaction I have been feeling are just due to scar tissue."

Kent have awarded Patel a benefit for 2004 and, as well as returning to fitness, he will have a busy winter organising a series of events for that.