A WORCESTERSHIRE trio are making encouraging progress after injuries.

All-rounder and club captain Joe Leach is back playing for Shrewsbury in the Birmingham League and for Worcestershire seconds after his stress fracture of the back.

The 27-year-old impressed in last week’s Second XI Championship match at Lancashire when he took the new ball and picked up wickets in both innings.

He ended with a match analysis of 6-28 from 20 overs.

County head of sports science and medicine Ben Davies said: “Joe has had no reaction to any of his back to bowling programmes so far. He is well on course at the minute.

“If he can get some overs under his belt in second team games and club cricket then we will look to reintroduce him (into first-team cricket) at some stage.

“He has had no reaction which is very positive.”

Paceman Dillon Pennington has had a protective boot removed from his ankle to which he suffered ligament damage during fielding practice and is working with strengthening and conditioning coach Ross Dewar.

Davies said: “Dillon has been in a (protective) boot for two weeks just to immobilise the ankle really and everything is also going to plan at the minute.

“He is back in with Ross doing some strengthening work and we will look to reintroduce him to bowling, hopefully in two to three weeks.”

Spinner Ben Twohig had a successful operation to repair his anterior cruciate ligament and started on the long haul back to fitness with initial rehab work.

Davies said: “Ben has had surgery on his ACL and everything has gone to plan so far so he’s just in the early stages of rehab now. Everything is on course. He is fine.”

County paceman George Scrimshaw has had injections in a sore and stiff lower back.

Davies added: “George had returned to playing seconds cricket for two to three weeks, just building up his overs to make himself available for white-ball cricket.

“Unfortunately against Gloucestershire at Royal Grammar School Worcester he felt some soreness and stiffness in his lower back.

“He has since been for some injections in his back to try to settle things down and for pain relief. We are just going to rehab George and get him back to bowling again as quickly as we can.”

Leach is continuing his comeback for the seconds in the Championship against Warwickshire at Barnt Green.

Former Leicestershire and Sussex batsman Angus Robson, the brother of England opener Sam, is also playing.

The 27-year-old last played first-class cricket at Hove during the 2017 season and has signed on for Kidderminster in the Birmingham League.