DURHAM are to hand England Under-19 paceman Mark Turner his first-class debut in their final match of the season against Leicestershire, starting at Riverside today.

Turner, from Sunderland, had to return early from the Youth World Cup last winter because of injury and had a delayed start to the season. But he has impressed in the recent Under-19 Tests and one-day internationals against Bangladesh and has also shown good pace for the Durham A team.

He is also a useful batsman and will replace Graham Onions, who has maintained reasonable one-day form but bowled poorly in the last two championship games. He was given only two overs in the match against Yorkshire at Scarborough, which cost 22 runs, while he was also below par in the field.

Onions' form merely compounded Durham's disappointment over Shaun Tait, the player he replaced. Between them in the last four games they have figures of none for 244 in 25 overs, which is tantamount to carrying a passenger in the side. Tait has now returned to Australia with his run-up problem unresolved.

Mark Davies had hoped to return for the last two games but Durham have decided there is no point risking him after his side strain. He finishes the season with 50 championship wickets and his nearest challenger is now Gareth Breese, whose ten-wicket haul at Scarborough took his total to 24 at 44.58.

Marcus North needs 50 for 1,000 first-class runs and Gordon Muchall 103, although Muchall leads the way in the championship as he made only five in two innings against Durham University, while North made 90.

Leicestershire are third from the bottom, but the only team Durham can overhaul are Derbyshire, who are six and a half points ahead with a game in hand.

Durham were thrashed by an innings at Grace Road six weeks ago, with Australian Brad Hodge making 262 out of Leicestershire's 634 for nine declared. He isn't keen to stay with the club and is now being linked with Lancashire, although Yorkshire are also rumoured to have shown an interest.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), J A Lowe, G J Muchall, M J North, G R Breese, G M Hamilton, P Mustard, G D Bridge, L E Plunkett, M L Turner, N Killeen, G Onions.