NEW Warriors recruit Chris Brooker is eager to relaunch his career at Sixways after a devastating injury lay-off.

The Harlequins front-rower has agreed a two-year deal with Worcester having missed more than a year after suffering a serious knee injury against Newcastle in 2012.

A week prior to the setback, Brooker had been called into the senior England squad and he is determined to recapture that kind of form for Warriors.

He said: “A week before the injury I got called into the England EPS squad for the Six Nations game against Wales as cover for Lee Mears. I had played for the Saxons as well so things were going really well.

“Then I played Newcastle and got the injury, from the biggest high to the greatest low in your career.

“You wonder if you will ever play again, but I have worked hard and I am gagging to get back out there and put a tackle in, it has been too long.

“I have been able to work on my ball skills and still do my throwing, but the next step is to get back into contact and start the season well.”

Brooker added: “I always followed Gloucester when I was younger. It was always either Bath or Gloucester for young kids growing up in Bristol and so I had heard of Dean Ryan and know what he has achieved in the game already.

“I had never met him before I came here, but from speaking to other people he has a great reputation and I am looking forward to being a player at his club.

“I haven’t played at Sixways too much, but I am well aware of the fan base here and the ambition. I’m looking forward to getting back to this neck of the woods.”