By Neale Harvey
Long-serving scrum-half Joe Simpson believes his performances over the next three months will dictate whether he still has a future at Wasps.
Simpson, 30, has been frustrated at playing second fiddle to England hopeful Dan Robson since the start of last season. However, with Robson out until January with an ankle injury, he aims to prove why boss Dai Young should offer him a new deal.
While Harlequins and Ealing are interested in tempting him south, Simpson, right, told The Rugby Paper: “I don't know what I'm doing yet and nothing is sorted.
“It's been a frustrating time but I've genuinely enjoyed the last two matches I started against Leinster and Bath and being able to contribute to a club I love.
“If I can just keep coming off the pitch with my head held high that's all I want and if I can do more of that I'm sure my long-term future will sort itself out.
“I just want to concentrate on playing rugby and trying to perform. I feel good body-wise and even though I don't really know what will happen, Dan's injury has given me an opportunity to get out there, express myself again and really push on.”
Whilst Christian Wade's departure stateside for a crack at NFL was a huge shock, Simpson is confident Wasps still have the firepower to challenge for the Premiership title.
He said: “Christian was one of the greatest Wasps players ever and he was like a brother. I've known him since he was 18 and we'll always be friends.
“After the departures of Danny Cipriani and James Haskell there are only a few of the old guard left – myself, Joe Launchbury and Simon McIntyre – but every club has a natural turnover and it's up to the rest of us now to kick-on and pick things up.
“We haven't really put in an 80-minute performance that we're pleased with, but we're still third in the Premiership and can make that top four.
“Ball in hand we're still very dangerous and I've got complete faith in my own ability to show people that I can do the job that's required of me.”
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