England wicketkeeper Matt Prior on Friday said he will have surgery on a long-standing Achilles problem next month.

Prior withdrew from England duty last month in a bid to get back to full fitness as he battled Achilles, quad and hand injuries.

The 32-year-old’s position in England team had already come under considerable scrutiny after below-par performances with both gloves and bat in the Test series against India.

After he pulled out, Prior’s place for the final three Tests went to Jos Buttler and he will remain out of the national set-up for the foreseeable future as he recovers from the operation.

“I’m still hurt, I’ve seen the specialists and surgeons and everything else. I’m having an operation on September 4 on my Achilles,” said Prior in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

“My Achilles has been the main issue, it’s been pretty bad, to be honest.

“It’s not the end, but there is a long road back and it starts from September 4 with four months of rehab to get as fit as I possibly can.

“It was a massive decision, but I went as long as I could. It’s been shown by specialists that I couldn’t physically have gone on any longer. So it’s now time to get it right, get fit again and come back stronger.”

Prior earned the first of 79 England Test caps against the West Indies in 2007.