ANDREW Flintoff says the pundits are entitled to their own opinions about his future and he is just focused on getting fit to play for Lancashire before the end of the season.

The 32-year-old retired from Test cricket in the wake of the Ashes win last summer because of his chronic knee problems but insisted he would play on for Lancashire and also for the England one-day teams.

But several pundits, including Ian Botham, have suggested that the Preston-born all-rounder has lost the desire to come back, especially after his latest knee operation and his increasingly high profile media appearances.

But while Flintoff sports the movie star tan and trappings of fame that come from being based in Dubai, he says cricket is the only thing in his mind.

“You know they can say what they like,” he said. “It doesn’t affect me at all.

“I live in Dubai and I am blissfully unaware of what people are saying. I am enjoying spending time with my family and trying to get back playing cricket again.

“There is an incentive to come back and that is the incentive to play with Lancashire.

“I get out of bed and do my training and I enjoy doing that. I just get on with it and leave people to their own opinions.”

While there is no time scale to Flintoff’s return, he admits he would like to be playing for the Red Rose by August.

“There is no time frame,” he said. “There is no date I can just pull out of the air.

“But last time I saw the specialist, he seemed to think we would be looking towards the end of July or early August.

“So I am hoping to step things up.

“I did a charity bike ride with Lawrence Dallalgio and I am working in the gym. I can’t do any cricket stuff at the moment but I am enjoying doing the gym work. I am used to that after so many injuries.

“But I want to step out with Lancashire and I want to help them towards honours.”