Kirby will miss the Championship game with Northants (Getty)

Gloucestershire captain Jon Lewis has admitted his team are missing injured strike bowler Steve Kirby.

Kirby is sidelined by a shoulder injury and in his absence Gloucestershire have fallen to the bottom of the County Championship Division Two table.

"Steve is a fine bowler and we're missing him at the moment, there's no doubt about that," said Lewis.

"He needs to get himself fit and ready to play. I don't quite know when that will be," he added.

"He's got a shoulder problem caused by a dive in the outfield but hopefully he'll be back sooner rather than later."

Kirby will have a scan on the injury on Thursday but has already been ruled out of the County Championship game with Northants, which starts on Friday.

The England A paceman has been out of action since hurting himself against Glamorgan last month.

Gloucestershire are now the only team in Division Two without a win this season.