FULL back Chris Pennell could make his much-anticipated return to action for Worcester Warriors against Jersey at Sixways on Friday night.
The 27-year-old has not featured for Warriors since the opening day of the season as he was forced to undergo an operation to repair a groin problem.
But director of rugby Dean Ryan revealed Pennell, who played every minute of Worcester’s Aviva Premiership campaign last season, was ready to return for the club.
“Chris could come back if we wanted him to and that’s how close he is,” he said.
“I think it is realistic to say that he will play some part against Jersey if he continues to train.
“He is back on the field with us, but when you have been out that long and Ben Howard is playing as well as he is, we don’t need to push him back in.”
Lock Jonathan Thomas is also close to making his comeback, but Ryan admitted summer signing Andries Pretorius’ hopes of making his first appearance in a Worcester shirt have been dealt a blow.
“To be honest there are some elements of his recovery which we don’t quite understand,” Ryan said.
“There are certain things which have not followed the normal pathway, so we are having to investigate further and that’s not just me being evasive.
“It has been tough for him to come to a new club and been so close to coming back and then it’s broken down again.
“But we are making sure that we get all the investigation work done to make sure we get him healthy again.”