MIKE Atherton made a timely return for Lancashire in their Championship match against Somerset at Old Trafford today.

Lancashire were missing Andy Flintoff because of his England contract and John Crawley with appendicitis, leaving them badly short of batsmen. But Athers informed the club yesterday that he had recovered from his Oval heroics.

And because he has only been selected for two of England's three winter tours, the Tests in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and not next month's one day tournament in Kenya, he was permitted to play -- unlike Flintoff and Somerset pair Andrew Caddick and Marcus Trescothick.

Warren Hegg continued as captain in the absence of Crawley. It is an important game for Lancashire even though Surrey look certain to clinch their second consecutive Championship before they come to Old Trafford next week.

Surrey, who were 19 points ahead of Lancashire at the start of current round of matches, are already well on the way to beating relegated Durham at the Oval.

But Lancashire still had work to do to hold on to second place, which carries £50,000 in prize money -- especially with Yorkshire, who are 11 points behind, making a good start at Kent yesterday. And Somerset made a solid start today reaching 34 without loss from the first 11 overs.