Vaughan missed the first Test victory at Lord's because of a knee injury, allowing Andrew Strauss to take his place opening the batting with Marcus Trescothick. The debutant scored a century in the first innings and 83 in the second.

The retirement of former captain Nasser Hussain last week has created a berth in the middle-order and Vaughan believes if he bats at number four the shift will be long-term.

"If I do it will be a career move," Vaughan told the England and Wales Cricket Board's website on Tuesday. "Unless injuries and other things prevail it should be a long-term move.

"Andrew Strauss has come in and played so well opening the batting it seems the ideal chance."

A final decision on whether Vaughan moves down the order at Headingley will be taken later on Tuesday or on Wednesday after discussions with England coach Duncan Fletcher.

The England captain meanwhile passed himself fit for the second Test after his suspect knee came through unscathed in a county match on Monday.

The Yorkshireman injured his left knee in the nets before the first Test.

But on Monday he played for his county in their one-day league match away to Scotland, scoring 32 off 62 balls before being run out.

Yorkshire won the match at the Grange by 59 runs and afterwards Vaughan said of his knee: "It's fine. I trained pretty hard last week and the rehab went pretty well. Plus I have come through a good game of cricket which was a good test.

"I never say there is no trouble with my knee because I have had dodgy knees for a few years now," added Vaughan ahead of the match at Headingley, his home ground.

"But what happened at Lord's was just bad luck and I'm hoping it never happens again.

"I'm going into the game on Thursday one hundred per cent fit."