PHIL Mustard is relishing a return to first-class cricket with Lancashire, but hasn't given up hope of becoming Durham's first-choice wicketkeeper again.

He has joined the Red Rose county on an emergency two-week loan to cover for Alex Davies, who has a knee injury.

With Jos Buttler resting after a busy summer with England, Lancashire coach Ashley Giles was forced to draft in the 32-year-old Sunderland-born gloveman for tomorrow’s LV= County Championship Division Two title decider against Surrey at Old Trafford and next week’s trip to Essex.

Mustard said: “Next season’s a long way away. I’m still under contract at Durham, and I’d like to get back in there. But it’s too early to say how it’s going to pan out. Every time a new season comes around, you go away in the winter and work on what you need to and then it’s a free for all. I’m just happy to be back in first-class cricket because I’ve played a lot of second-team cricket this year.

“So to go and play with high-class players and against high-class opposition, I’m very happy. I belong in first-class cricket, and that’s where I want to stay.”

While continuing to play limited overs cricket for Durham, Mustard has not played a Championship match since late May. He made way for Michael Richardson at the end of last season and did so again.

“It’s been quite a frustrating summer for me really,” said the three-time Division One Championship winner.

“So when this opportunity came up I thought ‘that’s good’ because I still want to play first-class cricket. I’ve still got plenty in me.

“This Surrey game is massive. I didn’t actually realise how close the league is until I checked the other day. There’s only five points in it.

“Lancashire have got some very good young bowlers coming through and Jimmy Anderson is coming back for this match.

“They’ve got a good team bond going on. Everyone sort of lives locally around there, which is very similar to how the successful Durham team was a couple of years ago.”

Mustard knows most of Lancashire’s squad well and in Championship cricket, he has scored seven fifties against them.

“They are one of the teams I’ve done well against,” he said.

“Instead of playing against them, it will be nice to play with them and help them beat Surrey."