TOM Heathcote is close to making his long-awaited return to action for Worcester Warriors according to director of rugby Alan Solomons.

The 26-year-old fly-half has suffered a succession of blows to the head since being knocked unconscious in Warriors’ clash with Brive in October 2016.

He has featured five times this term but was forced off for head injury assessments in Worcester’s defeats to Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks.

The Scot has not played since the defeat to Sharks in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in November and there were doubts whether he would play again this term due to concussion.

However, Solomons revealed Heathcote had passed all his tests so far and was expected to be available for selection in “early April”.

“Hopefully Tommy will be declared fit to play if the specialist feels that way,” Solomons said.

“He has passed everything so far.

“I don’t think he is that far away, probably early April, and then we will have another fly-half.”

Heathcote’s comeback would be a big boost to Warriors who failed in their bid to capture Edinburgh stand-off Duncan Weir on a short-term loan deal.

With Ryan Mills set to miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, Jamie Shillcock, 20, and Sam Olver, 23, are Solomons’ current options for the number 10 shirt.

But Solomons has backed Shillcock to continue to lead the way as he looks set to start in Warriors’ Aviva Premiership battle with Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium.

“Jamie has got invaluable experience and grows with each game he plays,” Solomons added.

“He has not had a lot of Premiership rugby but I think he has done really well.

“He is a young boy who has come in there and has acquitted himself well.”