DAVID Denton admits his time at Bath had a detrimental effect on his career as he bids to return to the Scotland fold this autumn.

The back rower is set to come up against his former club for the first time since his summer switch when Worcester Warriors visit The Rec today (3pm).

After seven years at Edinburgh and a World Cup quarter-final with Scotland, Denton arrived at Bath in 2015 with high hopes of making his mark in the Aviva Premiership.

But the Zimbabwe-born 27-year-old admitted he found himself frustrated by the Somerset club’s game style.

Denton had one year left on his contract at Bath but decided to cut ties in May and take up director of rugby Gary Gold’s offer to join Warriors.

“It was not a game style that suited me,” Denton said.

“I 100 per cent know I have left Bath a better player than when I arrived.

“I really had to adapt the way I play rugby because it didn’t suit the way they wanted to play.

“It was great I managed to develop. But I couldn’t keep doing that and having to change and stop doing what I do well as it was causing me a bit of personal detriment to my career.

“As a career move this is a much better place for me and just the way Worcester play is a direct physical abrasive style of rugby.

“That’s what I love about rugby and I had gone away from that a bit.”

Having made only 23 appearances over the last two seasons, Denton also lost his place in the Scotland team.

The last of his 35 caps came in a 26-13 win over Japan in June 2016.

Denton’s hopes of making an immediate impression at Warriors suffered a blow when he suffered an ankle injury in the first minute of his new side’s opening pre-season game.

But he still managed to secure a place in Gregor Townsend’s camp in August and having started in Worcester’s 25-3 defeat to Saracens Denton is determined to press his case for an international call-up.

Scotland host Samoa, New Zealand and Australian in next month’s autumn internationals.

“I really miss playing for Scotland and it was a big part of my decision for leaving Bath,” Denton said.

“Playing in a club that suits the way I play is going to help me as well in international rugby.

“First and foremost, I want to repay the faith Worcester have showed me and I want to come out here and be a difference-maker to the team.

“I want to help us win games and then after that there is November, February and March when I would like to be playing for Scotland.

“It is nice to know I am in their thoughts.

“But I fully understand that for Worcester and for Scotland I am going to have to earn my place by playing well.

“I am looking forward to the challenge.”