England coach Andy Flower admits Kevin Pietersen may miss this winter's tour of South Africa as the former captain makes a slower than expected recovery from surgery on his Achilles.

Pietersen limped through the opening two Ashes Tests earlier this summer, before deciding to undergo an operation to try and reduce the impact the complaint could have on his career.

"We're still taking that day by day. We're still not sure whether he's going to be fit or not," Flower admitted.

England had optimistically hoped to have him back in tow for the start of the Champions Trophy this week, however, an infection in his Achilles following surgery has served to hamper the 29-year-old's recovery.

Pietersen revealed himself last week his recovery had been slower than he hoped and there are now fears he could miss the 10-week tour of the country of his birth, which begins in November.

Pietersen will be given every chance to prove his fitness with the ECB this week deciding to delay the naming of the touring party until after the Champions Trophy, although Flower admitted Pietersen's name may not be on that list.

He added: "The infection that he got initially and the subsequent lack of healing that's taken place since then (has set back his recovery). He had quite a horrible wound after the infection took hold.

"I'm not sure exactly of what he's able to do at the moment, the medical people have been handling that.

"I would have wanted him back at the start of this one-day tournament."