OUT-of-favour full-back Ben Howard insists he is refusing to give up on his hopes of nailing down a place in Worcester Warriors’ side.

The 24-year-old flier, whose deal runs out at the end of this season, admits he has been frustrated by the lack of opportunities at Warriors.

But Howard made his first appearance this term in Warriors’ 45-37 defeat at Harlequins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Sunday.

And he has vowed to continue to fight for his spot in a bid to extend his stay at Sixways.

“I love being at Worcester,” said Howard who broke onto the scene in the 2012/13 season.

“I came through (the ranks here) and I want to see the club do well.

“If you are not playing as much as you would like it’s going to be frustrating.

“But this is the same for every side who have a big squad.

“There are lads who aren’t playing and I just happen to be one of those, but I am certainly not giving up and not looking for anything different.”

Asked whether he felt he had slipped down the pecking order, Howard replied: “I obviously have because I have not played as much.

“Whatever the reasons are the coaches aren’t picking me so all I can do is try to rectify that.

“It’s subjective when someone has got an opinion of you, so it is up to you to try to change that opinion and that’s what I have been trying to do for a little while now.”

With director of rugby Gary Gold preferring Josh Adams at full-back in the absence of Chris Pennell in the first four games of the season, Howard had a spell on loan at National One outfit Birmingham Moseley.

He also represented England in the DHL Oktoberfest Sevens in late September as he felt he was not getting a “look-in” at Worcester.

But the decision back-fired as he rolled his ankle at the event in Germany and was ruled out for more than a month.

However, Howard bounced back with a bang at the weekend as he scored a try and provided two assists in the loss at Quins.

“It was good to get an opportunity on Sunday,” he said.

“But you don’t know where that’s going to leave you next week or the next few weeks.

“You get the game, you play well, but that’s been the case with me for a few years now so it has been a little bit frustrating in that respect.

“There is only so many times you can come out with the same sound bite of just wanting to push on and get the games.”

Howard was a standout performer in Warriors’ Championship-winning 2014/15 campaign, but has made just 11 appearances in the Premiership.

“Throughout my career at Warriors I feel that when I have had a run of games I have gone well, especially in the Championship year,” he said.

“There are a run of Premiership games now. I know the coaches do like to look towards continuity within the side which whether you believe in it or not that’s their prerogative.

“There are a few lads in the same boat as me so we will keep working hard and see what happens.”