DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold believes England ace Ben Te’o “wants to be a part” of Worcester Warriors’ future plans.

The “world-class” centre spoke out in a national report in late December about his frustrations of where second-from-bottom Warriors found themselves in the Aviva Premiership.

The 30-year-old questioned the direction of the club saying he did not envisage being in a relegation battle when he joined last summer.

His comments were published ahead of Warriors’ clash at Bristol on Boxing Day which they lost 28-20 to leave them two points above the drop zone.

However, since Gold took over the reins in late January, Warriors’ performances have improved.

They defeated Saracens 24-18 and Bristol 41-24 to help them climb nine points clear of the relegation spot with four games left.

“I think maybe at the time the club didn’t have direction," Gold said.

"But I was not here then so for me I am not really in a position to comment on how felt about the club at the time.

“But I would like to believe there is a bit of direction now in terms of where we are going and hopefully he has seen that there has been a couple of decent results, performances have improved and I am sure he wants to be a part of it here.

“He has got a contract and we would love to have him here, so there are no issues from our side.”

Since arriving at Sixways on a reported £366,000-a-year deal which runs beyond this season, Te’o has made eight outings for Warriors, scoring four tries.

The former Leinster star was also part of England’s Six Nations-winning team as he crossed the whitewash twice in five appearances.

In October, ex-England and Bath centre Jeremy Guscott claimed Te’o had joined the “wrong club” to boost his international hopes.

He told the Rugby Paper he should be playing for a “top four” or top-six side” as he did not believe Te’o would “get enough ball” at Warriors.

But Gold added: “He is where he is.

“Jeremy wants him to be playing at a club that’s maybe top of the table. He isn’t so there isn’t a lot I can do about that.

“I almost don’t have a response to that as that’s Jeremy’s opinion.

“Obviously you want to see all England players playing in the top squads and Ben isn’t playing there, so it is what it is.”

Gold is hoping to have Te’o back available for Warriors’ league clash against Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium next Friday (7.45pm).

Te’o was ruled out of Worcester’s 40-33 defeat at Wasps last Sunday with concussion and a cut mouth following a crunching tackle from Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw.

“He has passed his concussion test and has now got to do his gradual return to training and then playing,” Gold said.

“We are hoping that he passes that and will be available to play next week.

“From what I have seen he is an absolute world class individual and I am sure it will lift the squad if he does come back.”