Sussex's hopes of avoiding relegation have been hit after Chris Jordan suffered an injury setback.

Jordan was in contention to make his comeback from a side injury suffered on England duty in June in Sussex’s Championship clash at Lord’s tomorrow.

But the 25-year-old has been ruled out of the crucial division one game after complaining of a sore back which required an injection.

It is another cause for frustration for Jordan who was due to play as a specialist batsman in Sussex’s final NatWest T20 Blast group game against Surrey only for the match to be washed out.

His hopes of playing any part in the Ashes are also nowover although he could still force his way into contention for the one-day series against Australia if he proves his fitness with his county.

Sussex must now decide whether to risk Jordan in their Twenty20 quarter-final against Northamptonshire next Wednesday or wait to ease him back in the Royal London One Day Cup game against Warwickshire on August 17.

Coach Mark Robinson said: “We were hoping CJ was going to be fit but he has had a stiff back which England want to be sorted out before he starts to bowl again.

“He had an injection on Monday and you need to leave it a week for it to settle down which means he is unable to play at Lord’s. He has a chance of being ready for the quarter-final but it is then a question of whether we risk him when he has had no competitive cricket for two months.”