FRUSTRATED Worcester Warriors back row Matt Cox has vowed to keep “topping the stats chart” until he gets Premiership recognition.

The former Gloucester flanker has played just three times in the top tier this term, totalling 43 minutes from the bench.

And the 28-year-old admits it has become a “personal thing” as he tries to force his way into the league thoughts of head coach Carl Hogg.

Cox starts for Warriors in the European Challenge Cup tomorrow against Russian outfit Enisei-STM at Sixways (2pm).

The Redditch-born ace stood out for his work-rate, tackles and carries in Worcester’s narrow 17-14 defeat at Brive last weekend.

“I am just looking at my game for work-rate, carries and tackles and Crossy (defence coach Simon Cross) labels them as either smash tackles, chop tackles, assists or passive tackles,” he said.

“My game is about positive carries and trying to get as much front-foot ball for the boys as I can and tackling and hitting as much as I can.

“I made 24 tackles, 19 ball-in-hand carries with 12 into contact against Brive. It’s a personal thing and I have to get better.”

Cox is a product of Warriors’ academy system and returned after four seasons at Kingsholm.

He was upset to miss out on making the squad to face his former club earlier this month for Warriors’ 55-19 Premiership hiding.

“You have no idea how much I wanted to play in that game,” reflected Cox. “I was the travelling reserve and waiting for someone to go down so I could get a shot.

“I would love to have played against some of my old mates, it would have been fantastic, but I wasn’t up for selection. I would like to play as much rugby as I can. But first things first — we have to concentrate on Enisei.”

Warriors cannot qualify for the knockout stages of Europe but seek to avenge a 19-12 loss to the Russians in Moscow in October After wrapping up their Challenge Cup programme, Warriors switch to the Anglo-Welsh Cup ties against Harlequins and Cardiff Blues.

Cox played 75 minutes as Warriors opened their Anglo-Welsh fixtures with a 31-25 win against Bristol in November and then did a full shift in their 62-10 hammering at Wasps.

Cox said: “We have two Anglo-Welsh games which I want to be involved in and if I can keep topping the stats chart then hopefully I can keep my place in the team.

“That’s what I have been aiming to do but it hasn’t gone the way I hoped it would.

“I just have to keep putting my case forward as best I can and if I break it down — it’s my carrying, tackling and being an aggressive player with a high work-rate.

"I have been getting a lot of positive feedback but selection is out of my hands. I have always said I don’t mind where I play as long as I am on the park.”