KENT captain Rob Key has allayed fears that the county’s overseas all-rounder Justin Kemp requires surgery to an injured shoulder.

The 28-year-old South African notched up his 50th one-day international appearance this week just three weeks after signing a new deal to bring him back to Canterbury this summer.

Stories emanating from South Africa ahead of Sunday’s clash with Australia suggested the 6ft 8in star was being nursed through the series and would need an operation immediately afterwards.

However, Key says the claims are unfounded.

He said: “As far as we know things are all right with his shoulder.

“He’s telling me that this talk of an operation is rubbish and that he expects to be with us as scheduled and will be fully fit, to bat and to bowl.”

Ironically, Key is recovering from shoulder surgery and is fully aware that the South African would probably miss the entire English summer if he had to go under the knife in he coming weeks.

Kemp is set to miss Kent’s first four Liverpool Victoria Championship matches of the season in any event.

If he stays fully fit Kemp seems likely to win a Test place in South Africa’s home series against New Zealand, scheduled to finish on May 9.

The biggest fear for Kent is that they might be left without both their overseas players for the first quarter of the championship campaign.

Should Kemp require surgery South Africa might retain the services of fellow all-rounder Andrew Hall who is also scheduled to return to St Lawrence this season.

It is believed Kent do have another international all-rounder on stand-by.

Meanwhile, the club have arranged four pre-season fixture dates.

*Pre-season fixtures: Friday, April 7, Sussex v Kent (Hove), Monday, April 10 and 11, Kent v Middlesex (Canterbury), Thursday, April 13, Kent v Surrey (Canterbury).