Joe Launchbury has admitted that he felt apprehensive ahead of his return to action with Wasps last week, following a lengthy injury absence.

The 24-year-old spent six months on the sidelines after damaging his neck, making just his sixth appearance of the season in what has been a frustrating year for the England international.

Having come through his first test against Leicester Tigers as a replacement, Launchbury is now eager to help his side claim the points needed to hang on to sixth place in the Aviva Premiership table.

"In the week before the game you think about the first impact and how you want to take it," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard. "But once I got out there it didn't become a factor and I came off and said to myself, 'I haven't thought about my neck once.

"Now, we have a really big game at Irish and the guys have worked so hard all season to qualify for the Champions Cup with a top-six finish and that has always been our goal this season. We understand the threats that Irish pose and have to raise our performance to ensure we get the result."

Launchbury has been capped 22 times for England since making his debut in 2012.