MATT Parkinson will miss the start of the new county season with Lancashire next month due to a back injury.

The Bolton leg-spinner sustained a lumbar stress fracture following an extensive period of bowling on an England Lions training camp in Dubai before Christmas.

Earlier this week, Parkinson tweeted he is in the latter stages of his recovery.

But he has been forced to remain in the North West instead of returning to the United Arab Emirates on his county’s pre-season tour this week.

Red Rose captain Steven Croft admitted: “Matt’s worked really hard on his fitness, so it’s a massive blow for him and us.

“He’s been out for a few weeks now, and he’s got another few weeks of rest ahead of him.

“It’s tough, especially with it being his back.

“He can’t do too much.

“He loves the game, and he’ll be gutted he’s not coming on tour with us for a start.

“But I’m sure when he is fit, he’ll force his way into everyone’s minds to show what he can do.”

Former Heaton star Parkinson, aged 20, made an immediate impact for Lancashire’s first team last year.

He took 5-49 against Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford on his debut in June.

As a result, he became only the second English leg-spinner to take five wickets on County Championship debut since 1946, with Adil Rashid the first.

Parkinson went on to play three more Championship matches last season, including a draw against eventual champions Middlesex at Lord’s.

He also trained with the full England Test squad in the build-up to matches against Pakistan in a bid to help their batsmen deal with the threat of visiting leg spinner Yasir Shah.

Croft added: “Matt was one of those players who took to first-team cricket last year, so he will be hungry to get a ball back in his hands, firstly in the second team I would presume.

“As a spinner, you want to go and bowl a lot.

“But he got injured probably bowling too much.

“It’s a real blow for him.

“He’s a bit deflated at the minute, but I’m sure he will come back.”

Lancashire’s first competitive game of the new season comes in the Championship against newly promoted Essex at Chelmsford on April 7.

Fellow Boltonian Haseeb Hameed is also missing Lancashire’s Dubai tour following sinus surgery, but he should be fit to face Essex.