WORCESTERSHIRE paceman Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the England Lions squad for the four-day match against Pakistan A in the United Arab Emirates in November.

Tongue was named in the initial 15-man squad subject to medical clearance but has suffered a stress fracture to his left foot.

An MRI scan confirmed the worst fears of the club’s academy product who ended his first campaign of Specsavers County Championship Division One cricket with 40 wickets.

He has been replaced in the squad by Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood.

Tongue had also been selected for the Lions tour of the West Indies last winter but aggravated an ankle problem during the pre-Christmas Lions training camp in Australia.

The 20-year-old suffered a similar foot injury earlier this summer and had two-and-a-half months out of action.

But he returned for the final six Championship matches and only Ed Barnard (47) ended up with more wickets in the competition for Worcestershire.