Sussex's senior players must guide side - Mark Davis

Sussex started the County Championship season with two wins but have not won a four-day game since April

Sussex coach Mark Davis has called on senior players to help guide the team through a difficult spell.

The Hove side have gone six games without a win in the County Championship and have lost their last three games in the T20 Blast.

"Ed Joyce has been fantastic with the bat and has had a great year," Davis told BBC Sussex.

"Other senior players need to stand up around him, make sure we all come to the party and get some wins."

He added: "You have got to keep the faith. We know we have a strong group to fall back on and some good characters in there."

Sussex could look for a loan signing, with injures and Chris Jordan's inclusion in the England Test squad stretching resources on the south coast during a busy period of first-class and one-day cricket.

All-rounder Michael Yardy missed the six-wicket defeat by Somerset this week with a bicep injury which now requires surgery and could keep him out for up to eight weeks, while opening batsman Luke Wells will be sidelined for two weeks with a side problem sustained in Taunton.

"There are a few injuries but we do plan for it," Davis said.

"We know this is a very tough time, playing cricket 31 days out of 35. We know the nature of county cricket and we have got to deal with it.

"At the beginning of the season you wouldn't have thought that Chris Jordan would be in the Test team. He has done particularly well but it is a blow for us in terms of an all-rounder, an opening bowler and the spearhead of our attack.

"A couple of young people are in the frame to play and it would be nice to see them make their debuts."