French Open runner-up Simona Halep has accepted a wildcard invitation to play in the Aegon International for the first time next week.

The world number two withdrew from this week's Aegon Classic in Birmingham citing an ankle problem as the reason for delaying her start to the grass-court season.

Halep, denied a first grand slam title by surprise package Jelena Ostapenko at Roland Garros, will get some competitive action under her belt on grass at Eastbourne before heading to Wimbledon.

"I am very much looking forward to playing in Eastbourne," said the Romanian.

"The quality of the draw is very high so I’m hoping for some great matches to give me the best possible preparation ahead of Wimbledon."

Halep will be joined by the top-ranked player in the world, Angelique Kerber, and Karolina Pliskova, the world number three, at Devonshire Park the week before Wimbledon gets under way.