Sussex seamer Ajmal Shahzad is facing another extended spell on the sidelines.

Shahzad broke down on his comeback following five weeks out with a torn pectoral muscle on the opening day of Sussex’s Championship game with Durham at Arundel Castle.

The former England international bowled just four overs on Monday before going off and only reappeared to bat yesterday as Sussex slipped closer to a fifth defeat in six Championship games.

Shahzad will definitely miss the NatWest T20 Blast matches at Hampshire on Friday and Glamorgan on Sunday to add to Sussex’s injury problems.

Seamers Chris Jordan, Ollie Robinson, Jimmy Anyon, Lewis Hatchett and Tymal Mills were also unavailable for this match although there was some much needed good news yesterday with Mills pencilled in for a comeback at Hampshire on Friday after seeing a specialist for his back problem.

Robinson said: “We don’t know exactly what the extent of the injury is with Ajmal but he is certaintly not going to be back in a week. It is frustrating to have so many bowlers who are injured."

at the moment and I feel for the captain (Ed Joyce) but we’ve just got to get on with it.”