ENGLAND will make a late call on Worcestershire star Moeen Ali's fitness for tomorrow's second Ashes Test at Lord's but captain Alastair Cook expects the all-rounder to be ready.

Moeen, 28, played a key role in the series opening success at Cardiff, hitting a brisk 77 in the first innings and picking up five wickets in the match.

But he felt some soreness in his side after the four-day win, raising concerns over a possible relapse of the injury that sidelined him earlier this year.

England handed Moeen a reduced training schedule yesterday but Cook played down the issue after the Worcestershire man took a more active role in the eve-of-match net session.

"He felt his side a tiny bit after the last game and, with his previous history, the medical team were wrapping him in cotton wool," he said.

"We'll make a final call tomorrow but it was more precautionary yesterday.

"I don't think it's the same injury. It's like always when you've got two games back-to-back, you're a little bit careful with training. But unless he gets a reaction overnight I expect him to be in our side."

Should Moeen get the green light to play at the home of cricket, England are almost certain to go in unchanged with back-up spinner Adil Rashid and spare seamer Steven Finn again sitting out.

The side have created an undeniable sense of optimism following their 169-run victory in Wales, an impressive result but even more striking for the confident, attacking manner with which it was achieved.