Sussex have handed contracts to four of their most exciting young prospects.

George Garton, Phil Salt and Stuart Whittingham have all signed junior professional deals for the first time while Fynn Hudson-Prentice has extended his existing contract.

New head coach Mark Davis believes all four have the potential to make an impact at Hove over the next few years as he attempts to build a young, vibrant team following relegation to division two of the Championship.

Salt and Hudson-Prentice both featured in the first team last season while Garton and Whittingham were included in squads without making their debuts.

Davis would love to see them all stake a claim next summer but says they must prove to him they are ready first. He said: “They are all exciting talents so hopefully they can push for places next year.

“If they are good enough then it is never too soon to throw young players in but you don’t just play them for the sake of it.

“They have got to show in the second team that they deserve their chance and when the opportunity comes they need to seize it.

“Both Fynn and Phil played last year and although they didn’t pull up any trees they will both be better for the experience.

All-rounder Hudson-Prentice made his Championship debut against Hampshire last season, making 15 and nought and bowling eight wicketless overs.

The 19-year-old from Haywards Heath is spending the winter playing grade cricket in Australia to develop his game.

Salt, an explosive top order batsman, made 22 in Sussex’s ultimately washed-out Royal London One Day Cup clash with Essex at Hove in August. The 19-year-old has scored heavily in both the 2nd XI and development team over the last two years.

Brighton-born left-arm seamer Garton played for England under-19s against Australia last season and will work with the Potential England Performance Programme in South Africa this winter along with fellow Sussex paceman Matt Hobden.

Whittingham is the oldest of the intakes at 21 having just finished his studies at Lougborough University, who he made his first class debut for last season.

The seamer was part of the Scotland Under-19 squad for the World Cup in 2014.

Davis added: “Phil is a hard-hitting batsman who didn’t look out of place when he opened for the first team last year, even if he didn’t make that many runs.

“Stuart has got good pace which is exciting because that is not an easy quality to develop. It will be interesting to see how he progresses now he has finished university and can focus on cricket.

“George is a good all-round cricketer. He bowls left-arm seam but he is also a hard hitting batsman and a good fielder.

“Fynn is more of a batter who bowls but there is scope for him to develop into an exciting all-rounder.

“It is an exciting time for all of them. This opportunity gives them a real chance to make a mark next summer and earn full contracts to really start to forge long and successful careers.”