LANCASHIRE skipper Liam Livingstone believes the return of Keaton Jennings can be crucial as his side resume their County Championship campaign tomorrow.

The Red Rose entertain Essex at Old Trafford and are bolstered by the availability of Jennings who has scored 314 runs in five matches so far this season.

The opener's form saw him recalled by England for the second Test against Pakistan and as a result he missed the final few games of Lancashire's One-Day Cup campaign.

But Livingstone, whose side bowed out of the 50 over competition this week, is glad to have the 25-year-old back and hopes fellow England international James Anderson will be able to feature for his county over the next few weeks.

Of Jennings, Livingstone said: "He’s been a massive part of our team at the start of the season, and from what I’ve seen fully deserved his Test call-up.

“It will be great to have him back. Fingers crossed, we might also get Jimmy Anderson back for the odd game. That would be a massive bonus.”

England’s management have yet to decide when Anderson will be available between now and the start of the next Test series against India in August although he will not feature against Essex. Jos Buttler will also be missing as he takes a break following his England exertions.

Lancashire have three games before the start of the T20 Blast next month. After Essex, they travel to Worcestershire and then host Hampshire.

“These three games, if we can win two out of three, you can leapfrog quite a way up the table,” added Livingstone. “Hopefully we can kick on."

The Red Rose sit sixth in Division One on 51 points with a win, two draws and two defeats, including one to Essex at Chelmsford.

Last time out, they beat leaders Nottinghamshire (70 points) by an innings inside three days at Trent Bridge.

Livingstone added: “It was a frustrating start to the season, and I suppose the break for the 50 overs came at a bad time for us because we were just starting to settle into some pretty good four-day cricket.

“But it’s up to us now to carry what we did against Notts into Essex.

“We were disappointed with the way we started, as much as we thought we were unlucky in a few games. Hopefully we can start playing some good four-day cricket and work our way up the table.”

Essex are fourth with two wins, two draws and a defeat. They are five points ahead of Lancashire and will field former Red Rose overseas fast bowler Neil Wagner – and have Alastair Cook back at the top of their batting order.