RYAN Mills looks set to miss the start of Worcester Warriors’ Aviva Premiership campaign as he faces more than a month on the sidelines.

The versatile back picked up hip and shoulder injuries when he was involved in England’s training camp in May.

And Warriors have confirmed the 25-year-old, who made 17 appearances last season, would be out of action for “four to five weeks”.

Hooker Niall Annett is also facing a race to be fit for Worcester’s season opener at Newcastle Falcons on Friday, September 1.

The ex-Ireland under 20 international has suffered a hamstring injury which is expected to keep him out for up to three weeks.

Director of rugby Gary Gold said: “Mills picked up his injury on an England camp in the summer. Annett picked up his hamstring injury during pre-season but is healing well.”

The loss of Mills, who can play at centre or fly half, will be a blow to Warriors as he helped guide them to safety after being handed the number 10 shirt and trusted with the kicking duties.

The ex-Gloucester star impressed on many occasions, landing 29 conversations and 21 penalties.

With Warriors failing to sign a top-class fly half this summer, Mills looked to be in prime position to keep hold of the jersey.

But his injury has now provided an opening for Jamie Shillcock and Tom Heathcote, who both missed large chunks of last season due to knocks, to press their case along with summer signing Sam Olver.

Annett will be hoping to regain full fitness in time for the first league game as he aims to put his injury-hit 2016/17 campaign where he made just nine showings behind him.

But the 26-year-old, who faces competition from Jack Singleton, Joe Taufete’e and Matti Williams for the number two slot, looks likely to miss Warriors’ three pre-season fixtures.

The Sixways side host Hartpury College on Saturday (4pm).