LIAM Norwell faces another frustrating lay-off as Gloucestershire attempt to launch a promotion challenge in the Specsavers County Championship.

Last season’s leading wicket-taker suffered a recurrence of his pre-season hamstring injury during the six-wicket defeat by Glamorgan at Bristol over the weekend.

Norwell had bowled nine overs in the first innings of the match when pulling up short in his delivery stride.

He later batted with a runner in Gloucestershire’s second innings, clearly in some discomfort, and was still sore after the game.

Head coach Richard Dawson said: “We need to wait a day or two before assessing Liam fully in order to let the injury settle down.

“We left him out of our opening game with Kent to err on the safe side, so it is very frustrating, for him more than anyone.

“It is not yet clear what the extent of the damage is, but clearly we won’t be rushing him back.”

Norwell, who claimed 59 Championship wickets last summer at an average of 17.38, first tore his hamstring bowling in the nets in early March.

He seemed to have made a full recovery and was hopeful of starting the season, only to be omitted from the Kent game, mainly through lack of match practice.

The new setback is particularly untimely for Gloucestershire as Norwell’s opening bowling partner from last season, David Payne, may not play until June following ankle surgery at the end of March.

The left-arm seamer had a piece of floating bone removed and, while he is progressing well, it is a slow process.

Without Norwell and Payne, Gloucestershire will be even more reliant on new overseas signing Dan Worrall, who has already claimed six wickets in the opening two games.

Matt Taylor has also started the season well, with seven victims to follow his career-best first class figures of five for 15 in the match against Cardiff MCCU, while all-rounder Ryan Higgins is leading wicket-taker with nine.

Craig Miles will be hoping for a recall to the seam attack against Sussex at Hove this weekend. Meanwhile, Dawson is keeping fingers firmly crossed that the Norwell injury is not long-term.

The head coach was proud of the way his team made Glamorgan fight for their victory on Monday and particularly the efforts of 20-year-old local product James Bracey, who finished the game 120 not out after batting for seven hours and 28 minutes.

Dawson said: “James puts a high value on his wicket. He loves batting and backs up his ability to spend long periods at the crease with good skill level.

“His innings was really impressive.”

Bracey, a product of Winterbourne and Bristol Cricket Clubs, ended last season top of the Gloucestershire batting list with an average of 74 from six innings.

Both his Championship centuries have come against Glamorgan. He hit a career-best 156 at Cardiff last September.