INFLUENTIAL back-row forward Marco Mama and wing Dean Hammond are fresh injury concerns for Worcester Warriors after their bruising 37-22 defeat at in-form Bath in the Aviva Premiership.

Mama and Hammond both left the field in the first half with hamstring problems – the South African hurt his leg when scoring Warriors’ second try.

Former Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan, who now works with the Rugby Football Union, was among the crowd at the Recreation Ground.

Warriors let slip a 17-3 advantage but rookies Jamie Shillcock, Perry Humphreys and Josh Adams all acquitted themselves superbly.

Warriors have an extensive list of injuries but head coach Carl Hogg is hoping “one or two” will be back for their crucial showdown with Sale Sharks at Sixways this Saturday (3pm).

Centre Ben Te’o (concussion), back row Alafoti Fa’osiliva (suspension), prop Nick Schonert (elbow) are all expected to come in the reckoning for Sharks.

And Hogg said wing Cooper Vuna and fly-half Ryan Lamb, who missed out against Bath, had picked up “small knocks”.

Hogg said: “Unfortunately with Marco it was a hamstring and he will assessed on Monday.

“I thought he looked very lively as he did looked against Gloucester.

“Marco started at seven the previous week but because of suspension to Fa’osiliva we started him at six and he looked as lively but we lost him through injury.

“Dean (Hammond) has a tight hamstring – that will also get assessed on Monday.”

Of Vuna and Lamb’s absence at Bath, Hogg explained: “They have just got small knocks which we need to look after and manage over the next two or three weeks.

“We are hoping to get one or two back which will be great but if you look at the exposure the young players can get at an environment like the Rec it’s a fantastic learning experience for them.

“In an ideal world we wouldn’t have used them. It’s not something we have designed it’s almost by default due to the level of injuries but the exposure they have got is fantastic for the future of the club.”

With Chris Pennell recovering from a neck injury and Ben Howard out for three months following an ankle operation, teenager Jamie Shillcock slotted in at full-bac.

The youngster had an early fright when he misjudged an up-and-under from George Ford in the opening minute.

Bath blew the try-scoring chance from the error but Shillcock grew in confidence and kicked confidently out of hand and helped set up first-half tries for Niall Annett and Hammond.

“Jamie is nine who can play 10 and ended up playing full-back,” said Hogg.

“For him to come up against someone like Ford who is a strategic and accurate kicker it was a steep learning curve for Jamie and will stand him in good stead whether his future is at 10 or nine or at full-back.

“We had a young back three and you know in the Premiership people are going to look to see if people can exploit a weakness and Ford is a word-class player.”

Hogg added: “Our whole model is about promotion from within and someone like Perry Humphreys has also got an opportunity through one or two injuries and he’s taken his chance.

"We want to promote young players from our system and give them a chance.”