JACK Leach has admitted he may look for a loan move away from Somerset if his absence from the county's one-day side continues.

Leach, currently on duty with England's Test squad in the West Indies, has not played a white-ball match for Somerset since 2015 and told the County Gazette before Christmas that he wants that to change this summer.

And speaking to the Mail Online in the build-up to the third Test in St Lucia, Leach was asked if a temporary move away would be something he would consider in order to ensure he features in limited-overs matches.

Leach replied: "That's a potential option and one I might look at.

'But at the moment I'll focus on trying to get into Somerset's white-ball team.

"I've had discussions with the coaches and the door is open. I have to work hard at my game to get myself in their best XI.

'It's difficult and the Royal London is at the start of the year so there may only be one spinner and Roelof van de Merwe is a great one-day player.

"If I feel I won't play I might ask the question to see if there is an option."

Leach joins his fellow Somerset spinners Dom Bess and Max Waller in admitting he could look into a loan move in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Asked in November if he would consider a move away from Taunton, Bess told the Press Association: “Potentially. That’s sport, isn’t it.

“Loan is possibly the first option because of contracts but I think then potentially - it’s obviously in the thoughts.

“I back my own ability and all I’ve got to do is get on that pitch.”

Waller, who is a key part of Somerset's T20 side but played only half of the 50-over matches last season, told the County Gazette in October: "I can definitely play 50-over cricket for Somerset and I am keen to do so.

"Whether the club choose to give Dom [Bess] and Jack [Leach] more opportunities in white ball cricket we will see, but if I am not being selected I will be proactive in looking for a loan deal somewhere else.

"I want to be playing as much cricket as possible. It [a loan deal] is more likely in 50-over cricket than four-day as I haven't played four-day cricket in a while."

Such intense competition for places is a positive, but Somerset face a challenge on their hands to keep all their spinners happy.

The Bess and Leach situation, in particular, has drawn comparisons with the Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter dilemma which resulted in Buttler leaving Taunton in 2013.