DAVID Howell is hoping to put his injury and poor form behind him as he heads to Castle Stuart for the Scottish Open.

During his last outing, the Broome Manor member failed to make the cut at the Open De France when he finished on 10-over-par after two days.

The 41-year-old has been battling a foot injury since the turn of the year, resulting in some inconsistent performances.

Howell said: “It was disappointing but I’m looking forward to it up here in the north of Scotland. I’m looking to get a good score on the board.”

“I’ve played here many times before. It’s tough when it’s windy, it is always a test as there are some fairways that you have to hit right.”

Before the tournament in Paris last week, Howell looked like he may be making progress after a 31st place finish at the Lyonness Open in Austria.

However, the two-time Ryder Cup star admitted he wasn’t feeling confident ahead of this week’s tournament - the last before the Open Championship at Troon next week.

He added: “I wouldn’t say confident, I’d say open minded. It is just a case of going out there and doing what I have been doing for the past 20 years.

“Sometimes in golf you play poorly when you think you’re going to do well and you do great when you don’t think you are, so it is good not to have expectations.

“You’re only a week away from playing well, so I need to get out there and get a good score on the board.”

Howell first complained of pain in his foot when he was in Malaysia in February this year. Since then it has been a battle to stay out on the course.

He said: “It’s been very frustrating. We had some good moments but the start of 2016 has been down to injury really with it being so stop-start and at the moment, not getting the practice.

“There has been improvement but it’s still not right so I’m unsure about the next couple of weeks.”

Howell was due to tee off alongside fellow Englishman Luke Donald and Ireland’s Paul Dunne at 8.55am.