Injured South Africa bowler Dale Steyn out of third Test against England

Dale Steyn is still struggling with a shoulder problem

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn will miss the third Test against England because of a shoulder injury.

Steyn, 32, missed the drawn second Test in Cape Town having been restricted to 22 balls in the second innings of the series opener because of a back spasm when the hosts were thrashed by 241 runs in the series opener in Durban.

The third Test gets going in Johannesburg on Thursday, live on Sky Sports, with England leading the four-match series 1-0.

Steyn was rated as 50/50 for the latest contest with Alastair Cook's team and, after seeing a shoulder specialist in Cape Town on Thursday, was reassessed in Johannesburg on Monday.

Coach Russell Domingo confirmed on Monday that Steyn is not yet ready to return and will now have further scans on the injury.

Steyn has not travelled with the squad to Johannesburg, staying instead in Cape Town as team doctors attempt to get to the bottom of a problem which has sidelined him longer than expected.

Domingo said: "Dale - he's out of the next Test. He has a final test later on Monday but speaking to our physio, he's definitely out of the next Test."

Bowler Kyle Abbott has been passed fit for the third Test

It is the latest blow for the 32-year-old paceman who bowled in just one innings in India before a groin injury ruled him out of the rest of their Test series in November, which the Proteas went on to lose 3-0.

Domingo will be concerned with the lack of firepower in his team who need victory to have any hope of winning the series and preserving their position at the top of the Test rankings.

The coach described Steyn in December as "the best bowler in the world for the last five or six years".

Ben Stokes fired a stunning 258 during the drawn second Test

Kyle Abbott is fit to return to Domingo's squad for the third Test, but Vernon Philander has already been ruled out for the series.

At 32, his longevity is open to question but Domingo said: "I don't think it is the end of Dale Steyn's career at all.

"All players are going to experience some type of niggles at some stage. He's just had a few of late. He's a great athlete. These things happen and I'm sure he'll get through it."

Abbott, back from a hamstring injury, will compete with fellow pacemen Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada and Hardus Viljoen for a place in the team at the Wanderers.

Under AB de Villiers' captaincy following Hashim Amla's resignation, South Africa have the option to field four of the five and leave out spinner Dane Piedt at a venue traditionally favouring pace bowlers, though Piedt took 5-153 in the second innings of the first Test and added 3-38 at Newlands.