GAVIN Henson wants to prove himself at Bristol towards the end of the season and then get himself a new contract.

The Welsh international has been sidelined since October with a shoulder injury that needed surgery and has told of the frustration of sitting around and watching his clubmates struggle in the Aviva Premiership.

He made his return on Sunday in the breathless 12-11 victory of West Country rivals Bath at Ashton Gate, playing a man of the match role in a win which puts Bristol back in which a chance of avoiding relegation to the Championship.

It was their third win of the campaign and on Sunday they face the team which is two points above them – Worcester Warriors – at Sixways in a match which could go a long way to deciding which of them finishes on the bottom of the table come the final day.

Henson scored all his side’s points with three penalties and a massive drop goal, almost from half-way, but said it has been a frustrating time being sat on the side and watching his clubmates struggle.

The British Lions ace said: “It has been tough and feeling like you can go out and help them has been difficult. I’ve gone out there in training and tried to help when I could.

“Personally, it is also tough because I’m out of contract, I’m 35, I don’t want it to end yet and so there was a lot of drive out there to play well.”

Now he wants to play a big part in Bristol’s survival and show new head coach Pat Lam, who is arriving in the summer, why, even in the autumn of his career, he is worth another season.

“There has been nothing in the way of a new contract. Hopefully, Bristol will want to keep me but I’ve got to prove that until the end of the season and put a run of games together.”

As for the victory Bath, the club he left three seasons ago because he was not getting enough first team rugby, the fly-half said: “It does feel pretty good to win. I feel guilty about it because I have not done much for the club this season so I felt I owed them a big performance, particularly against our rivals and because where we are in the league.

“We are scrapping for our lives and we have to back that up next week (against Worcester).

“I was a little bit nervous because I was playing for them not so long ago and I have friends there. I have been out for four months and the main thing I thought was don’t get injured again.

“Once you cross over that line, it was straight into the zone. The boys played really well and it was a great day.”