It's Wood if he can: Broad

England’s Stuart Broad has backed Mark Wood to replace the injured James Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge starting Thursday.

Anderson has been ruled out with a side strain injury he suffered late on day two in Birmingham, with Wood tipped to return to the starting XI after missing out in the third Test with an ankle complaint.

Watson not done with yet

That injury was still a concern following the emphatic eight-wicket win last week, forcing England’s selectors to draft in Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett and Derbyshire’s Mark Footitt as extra cover.

Wood was disconsolate after a fitness test on Monday but yesterday (Tuesday) bowled off his long run and looked pain free after receiving a glowing endorsement from England’s senior bowler when asked who should replace Anderson.

“I am a big fan of Mark Wood,” Broad said. “He has done nothing wrong in his few Test matches so far and if his body gets through the treatment he has had then he is going to be in a great position to play.

“He has done well with the bat, taken wickets with the ball and has looked threatening.

“He bowls quickly and is a wicket-taker.

“I am a big fan of his and if he is fit he is going to be in a good place.”

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Wood has played four Tests this summer including the first two matches of this series, taking 14 wickets at speeds breaking the 90mph (145kph) barrier.

Towering Middlesex paceman Steven Finn, who replaced Wood at Edgbaston and can also clock searing numbers on the speed gun, will retain his place in the XI after claiming 6-79 in the second innings in Birmingham in a man-of-the-match performance.

While England will make at least one change to their attack, Mitchell Johnson expects the quartet of Australian bowlers selected for the first three Tests will take the field at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

That's despite the presence in the squad of Peter Siddle, who took eight wickets in his only Test at Trent Bridge in 2013 and has since impressed at the venue with county side Nottinghamshire.

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Siddle took eight wickets at Nottingham in 2013 // Getty Images

“Everyone is feeling pretty good, to be honest ... the boys are doing very well, they're young and fit,” Johnson said.

“We had a bit of time in London after Lord's (while the Derbyshire tour match was on) and that was really freshening for us as a group.

“I think everything is going pretty well. The boys bowled pretty well today and feel pretty good, so I'd expect the same guys.”

Quick Single: Johnson welcomes crowd taunts

Johnson claimed his 300th and 301st Test wickets in three balls at Edgbaston with hostile bouncers, but then changed his approach to focus more on pitching the ball up in search of swing.

The left-armer lamented Australia’s inability to bowl in tandem at crucial times to sustain pressure, and said that is the key to winning the fourth Test and squaring the series heading into the final match at The Oval.

“We didn’t bowl in partnerships,” he said.

“Throughout that whole game there were moments where we bowled well I thought and there were a lot of moments where we could have bowled better and bowled in partnerships.

“That’s what it comes down to. That’s when we play our best cricket.

“Both guys at their ends are bowling well. ‘Lyono’ (Nathan Lyon) always comments that we have a good partnership when we’re bowling.

“We seem to get breakthroughs. When you can tie it up from both ends or apply pressure from one end and the other end is doing their job as well, that’s what it’s all about.”

Quick Single: Test rival heaps praise on Lyon

The form of Australia’s middle order remains a concern, with both Michael Clarke and Adam Voges averaging less than 20 in the series after three Tests.

Clarke will retain his place in the XI but the short-term future of the No.5 Voges is unclear with the in-form Shaun Marsh ready to take his spot should the selectors decide to make a change.

However, Voges was fielding in his customary first slip position at training today before leaving the nets early with a neck issue.

The final XI for both teams will likely be announced at the toss of Thursday morning.

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