MILES Benjamin believes the return to fitness of a whole host of Worcester Warriors first team regulars will not affect the morale of the young guns who have deputised so well for them.

In recent weeks, director of rugby Mike Ruddock has had to dig deep into his academy squad to cover for a crippling injury list.

The youngsters thrown in at the deep end have performed admirably, but are now set to return to the sidelines as the walking wounded return to match fitness.

Benjamin, himself a product of the excellent Sixways academy, said: “The injury problems we’ve had have had a good impact.

“Obviously it is negative and unfortunate for the guys who are injured, but there are a lot of guys — like Alex Grove — who have been waiting around on the periphery for their chance to show what they can do.

“Now pretty much everyone is back fit, we’ve got a quite small but very competitive squad, which is always what you want — positions are up for grabs every week.

“A lot of the young guys here have been champing at the bit for a fairly long time now to get their opportunity and they have gone out there and grabbed it with both hands.

“It is a positive club and we all get on very well here, so I think the young guys will be glad to have had the exposure and will give them even more hunger for when they go out and try and get their places back.

“They won’t be demoralised to drop out of the team for the returning more senior players — it will spur them on to keep training hard and hopefully get that opportunity again.”