TRY-OBSESSED wing Tom Howe hopes his patience will pay dividends as he aims to win over Worcester Warriors boss Alan Solomons.

After kicking off the season with a stunning hat-trick in the Premiership Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs in September Howe was upbeat about his chances to establishing himself in the side.

But Howe has yet to make a Gallagher Premiership appearance this term with fellow wingers Melani Nanai, Perry Humphreys and Ed Fidow all picked ahead of him.

It is a familiar situation for Howe who struggled to keep hold of the jersey last season despite a series of try-scoring displays in the cup competitions.

But after several frank conversations with director of rugby Alan Solomons Howe said he needed to sit tight and take his opportunities when they came.

“It has been a bit of a frustrating start,” said Howe who starts in Warriors’ European Challenge Cup clash at Dragons tonight (8pm).

“After the Exeter game I was pretty optimistic about the season.

“It is just the nature of the beast where the game-time has not come.

“But I have spoken to Solly and he says to keep being patient and that he is happy with me.

“That’s what I have got to do and put my hand up whenever I can.

“We are only five games into the Premiership season and there are still 16 or 17 more to come.”

Howe bagged 11 tries in 16 games last season, three of those coming in the Premiership as he featured in eight of their last nine league matches.

“I didn’t play a Premiership game until February last year and that was away at Harlequins,” Howe said.

“I then ended up playing seven Premiership games off the back of that so you have got to bide your time.

“I like sniffing out a try and I said a few years ago that I am a bit obsessed with it. That obsession is still there.

“Perry has been going really well and Melani has come over so they are wanting to get the best out of him. That’s just the way it is.

“I have just got to play the best I can and if Solly picks me he does so on a form basis.”

Howe, who joined Warriors from Wasps in 2017, said he was also benefitting from Solomons’ open-door policy at Sixways.

“I am 24 now and am not happy when I am not in the squad,” Howe said.

“I speak to Solly and we talk about what I can do to get into the team. It is great to have that relationship with Solly where he is open for you to knock on the door and speak to him and he will give you an honest answer.

“A lot of people just see the tries in the highlights but it’s the small things (that I need to work on).

“If you look at All Blacks player Ben Smith he might not be the quickest or the most elusive but his all-round game is brilliant.

“High balls and defensive reads are things I am really working on with Omar (Mouneimne, defence coach) during the week and just getting my all-round game better.”

Howe, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, is keen to stay at Warriors but revealed he had yet to start negotiations with Solomons.

“A lot of boys have re-signed so Solly is trying to build a squad around that,” Howe added.

“I would like a bit more game-time but I am happy here and get on well with the lads so we will just see what happens.

“You never really start signing contracts unless you are playing so I have just got to be patient and hopefully when that game-time comes then we will start talking.”