MARCO Mama hopes his long-awaited return from injury can provide the “catalyst” for struggling Worcester Warriors as they aim to end their losing streak.

The fit-again back rower is poised to make his first appearance of the season when second-from-bottom Warriors face Newcastle Falcons at Sixways today (3pm).

And he is aiming to inject a “new energy” into the side who have slumped to three successive defeats in the Aviva Premiership.

It has been a long road to recovery for Mama who had to undergo surgery after damaging his knee ligaments in pre-season training.

After spending eight months on the sidelines the 27-year-old said he was itching to get onto the pitch and make an impact.

“I am jumping around at the moment,” Mama said.

“I have been bringing a lot of probably unnecessary intensity to training because the rest of them have been at it for a good few months now and I am fresh coming in.

“My first game back has been something I have looked forward to for eight months so it is going to be great to get back out there.”

Warriors have yet to retain their top-flight status as they sit 10 points clear of bottom club London Irish with four games left.

The Exiles visit ninth-placed Harlequins today.

“There is not too much left of the season,” said Mama whose side were thumped 58-25 at Sale Sharks in their last league match.

“I guess I am coming back at a point where the team maybe needs a new energy. Hopefully I can provide that catalyst to shake things up a bit.

“If you look back at the game against Sale we were missing quite a lot of energy and intent so that will be my real goal.”

Mama has made 28 appearances for Warriors and was hoping to kick on this term.

But he suffered a hammer blow in an “innocuous” incident prior to Worcester’s opening pre-season fixture against Hartpury.

The ex-Bristol ace said his knee just “gave way” when changing direction while running in a training session.

“I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament which goes straight through your knee,” Mama said.

“I had surgery on it and they pretty much took a tendon out of my hamstring and put it in my knee so it becomes a ligament.

“It’s quite an interesting procedure but it takes a long time for your body to accept that new tendon as a ligament and retrain your knee to move the way that it was.”

Mama returned to action in Worcester Cavaliers’ 40-14 defeat at Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby A League.

The Nigeria-born forward now faces Newcastle again and is expecting a big challenge with Dean Richards’ men flying high in fourth position.

“I played them in the A League and we definitely struggled to break down their defence so they are quite structured,” Mama said.

“They have scored some very good tries this season, have got some dangerous runners out wide and they break teams down by just holding onto the ball.

“It is going to be one hell of a test for us but it is probably the test we need after a very disappointing game (at Sale).”