THE season is only just over, but Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson has already turned his mind to next season.

And he admits finding an overseas player for 2009 is already giving him headaches.

This summer, Lancs were left in the lurch by Brad Hodge's decision to sign for the IPL just weeks into the season. Then he didn't return following an illness to his wife.

Mohammad Yousuf stood in for two Championship games and five Friends Provident matches, with Lou Vincent filling in for the rest of the campaign, although he was left out for the final five Championship games.

Ideally, the club would love to bring back Muttiah Muralitharan, who after four spells at the club is considered one of their own. However, Sri Lanka's commitments along with his own Indian Premier League contract means he would only be available for a short time.

And, with the World Twenty20 taking place next year along with the uncertainties of the Kolpak situation and the ever-changing rules on employing players signed up to the Indian Cricket League, the task of finding a top-class overseas players is becoming close to impossible.

Difficult

"Year on year it becomes more difficult to sort out your overseas situation," said Watkinson. "We have the IPL which takes you to the end of May and then in June you have the Twenty20 World Cup.

"And then after that the only countries with little cricket are South Africa, West Indies and India. So next season is a challenging time. You have to decided what type of player you want and are you going to have someone available all year?"

Having struggled for runs this summer, a top-order batsman like Hodge could fit the bill. However, having decided to put the emphasis on youth in the next few years, Lancashire would be keen to have an overseas batsman who is there for most of the season.

And Watkinson hasn't ruled out starting the campaign without an import.

"If you add someone of nailed on quality in the top order, you would want continuity with that," added Watkinson.

"Yousuf, one of the world's greatest, comes overthis summer, it takes him a few weeks to get established. "He gets singles figures, then goes and gets 200 not out but he only has a four-week stay and he is gone.

"If you have someone like that over the best part of your season, he hits his straps and you get him for a longer run."

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