Joe Leach has said that Worcestershire's injury-enforced influx of youngsters over the past month will "only accelerate the development" of its up-and-comers.

All-rounder Leach, who served as a part-time coach for the Worcestershire Rapids for the Metro Bank One Day Cup, is particularly fired up about Harry Darley and Jack Home.

Darley, who signed a rookie contract in February, was involved in four games in the Vitality Blast before his One Day Cup debut against Middlesex.

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He went on to play in seven group matches, where he claimed six wickets.

Home, whom head coach Alan Richardson rotated during games, debuted in the final Vitality Blast game against Derbyshire Falcons.

He also made his One Day Cup maiden outing against Middlesex.

Playing in five group matches, he showed off impressive form, boasting a haul of 16 wickets, which included a 6-51 performance against Derbyshire.

Leach asserts that the youngsters' first team exposure offers a "great learning curve" at their career stage.

He said: "The most important thing for them, and our expectations for them, is all we can ask is they take every experience they got from this competition and learn from it.

"It is just about learning from that and taking it, moving forward and getting better."

Leach, who is back to bowling after an injection in his injury-prone knee, believes that Darley, Home and any other young players benefit immensely from being in the Worcestershire dressing room.

He said: "It’s always been a great environment for people to come in and play.

"You look at the way the guys have come in, may only have been here a few days, a couple of weeks, but they’ve been able to take to it.

"They are very well supported and that’s no different with any of the younger guys who come in and play.

"Rightly so, at times they are going to need to be supported as they have been in this competition and through their development.

"That’s up to us as senior players and coaches."

Leach, who has returned to bowling after getting an injection in his knee, expressed confidence in the budding players' potential for development in the coming days.