Stuart Broad is in contention for a return to the side for England's third ODI against South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Broad has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since tumbling awkwardly in the field in England's opening warm-up game of the tour and missed the Twenty20 series, the washed-out opener to the one-day international series, and England's victory in the second ODI at Centurion.

However, he took a full part in England's training at Cape Town on Wednesday, and a team spokesman confirmed that he is fit and available for selection on Friday.

"I feel good," Broad told reporters at Newlands. "It's been a tricky couple of weeks getting my shoulder right but I feel back to full fitness and excited if selected for Friday.

"We have a bit of momentum against the South Africans but it's important we kick on from here. There's only three one-dayers left in the series so this weekend is going to be a huge one for us."

England's preparations for this tour have been ravaged by injury, with Broad's fellow seamers James Anderson and Graham Onions both suffering niggles. Graeme Swann took part in Wednesday's practice but is still struggling with a side strain, while Alastair Cook is also unfit with a back problem.

Despite these difficulties, England having already gone one-up with three to play in the series, and can strengthen their side if, as expected, Broad returns for the struggling Sajid Mahmood.

Mahmood was recalled to the one-day side after a two-year absence, having been dropped following England's failed World Cup campaign in 2007. Yet he struggled in the Twenty20 matches, conceding 92 runs from seven overs, and again in the second ODI, in which his seven overs cost 41.