The sidelined England captain told reporters at the airport he was in Brisbane only to receive treatment from England's medical staff on his knee, three days ahead of the Ashes opener, reports said Tuesday.

Vaughan, 32, who was previously announced as joining England's academy squad in Perth, was reluctant to speak to reporters.

But when asked if he was any chance of playing at the Gabba, Vaughan said: "The first Test? I only just got here. I'm just continuing my rehab."

Vaughan was forced out of England's tour in India in March after a recurrence of knee trouble and underwent surgery in July.

After the surgery Vaughan stated that he would target this Australian summer's triangular one-day series for a comeback attempt.

But since then, that comeback target date has been wound back from the fifth, to the fourth and, most recently, to the third Test in Perth.

Vaughan discounted that notion: "I never said I wanted to play the third Test," he said.

Australian coach John Buchanan believes his English counterpart Duncan Fletcher has not revealed his full hand ahead of the Ashes series.