Ned Leonard – pictured playing for Devon against Cornwall in a 50-over friendly in 2020<br>credit: @ppauk | no re-use without consent of copyright holder

DEVON have made three changes to their squad for Sunday’s National Counties Trophy clash against Cornwall at Redruth (11am).

Missing from the 12 named for the Group Two opener against Herefordshire at North Devon three weeks ago are pacemen Hugo Whitlock and Dan Goodey along with forceful left-hand bat James Horler.

Whitlock (ankle) and Goodey (side strain) are both nursing injuries while Hauler, who was 12thman against Herefordshire, has been freed to play for club side Exmouth in the Devon KO Cup.

Into the 12 come Somerset staffer Ned Leonard, who is dual registered with Devon, fit-again Matt Golding and in-form keeper-batter Adam Small.

Leonard played in one-day cricket for Devon in 2019 and will plug one of the gaps in the new-ball attack.

Golding missed the Herefordshire game due to a shoulder injury. Small has been scoring runs for Sandford in Premier cricket and is among a number of players team boss Dave Tall wants to involve in the squad during a transitional season.

Said Tall: “Our rebuilding phase is at an early stage but already I can see competition for places among our young players hotting-up,” said Tall.

Victory over Cornwall at Redruth will put Devon in contention for qualification from the group into the knockout stages.

Although Devon lost to Herefordsire first time out, they do have a game in hand on all four teams above them in the table.

And as no one in the group has won two game so far, the hunt for a top-two place remains wide open.

Devon’s remaining games in the group at Wales at Sidmouth on June 27 and Dorset at Dorchester on July 4.

Devon (from): J A Stephens (Taunton Deane), M W Thompson (Port Talbot), M C Golding (Old Wilsonians), C J Haggett (Bridgwater), B A Beaumont (Cornwood), J H G Degg (Plymouth), E H Hamilton (Plympton), S O Read (Exeter), F Sabir (West Bromwich Dartmouth), E W O Middleton (Exeter), A J Small (Sandford).