RETURNING flanker Tom Ellis admits finishing outside the top six in the Aviva Premiership would do Bath ‘injustice’.

Bath currently sit eighth in the table, having secured nine wins from 19 fixtures.

While hopes of reaching the end-of-season play-offs were all but dashed after losing to Leicester Tigers at Twickenham on Saturday, Ellis believes the club should aim to finish in the top half of the league – adding it’s where the club belongs.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s tie against Saracens, Ellis said: “Our minimum standard is to finish in the top six. If we finish outside of that, I don’t think we’re doing the club or fans justice.

“Right now, small margins are our problem.

“It seems at one or two moments during the 80 minutes we switch off.

“Saracens will always be a tough opponent to face.

“But there are four points on offer and we want them.”

Ellis, 23, was set for his biggest year in Bath colours prior to the 2017/18 season.

But hopes of making progress and throwing his hat into a potential England call-up were dashed when a knee injury ahead of England’s game against Barbarians ruled him out until March.

The Parbrook-born back used his time off the field wisely though, completing a degree in Leadership and Management at Northumbria University while working with Bath Rugby five, sometimes six, times a week to get back to full fitness.

And having the support of staff behind the scenes seems to have worked wonders for the returning flanker.

He said: “Ten months on (from the injury) I managed to get back on the pitch and it is nice, I’ve enjoyed being back on the pitch and being amongst the team.

“We’re still in five or six days a week working on rehab, there’s no time off.

“Every game I’ve been feeling better, and I’m enjoying rugby more.

“I was a little rusty at the start but it’s nice to have games come so quick and fast to blow those cobwebs away.”