WORCESTER Warriors will not be rushing Chris Pennell’s return to competitive action.

The England international was omitted from Warriors’ squad for last weekend’s 23-7 home win over Moseley in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Ben Howard filled the full-back position and was one of Warriors’ shining lights in their frustrating afternoon at Sixways.

Howard looks set to keep his spot for Warriors’ trip to face Doncaster Knights on Saturday at Castle Park (2.30pm).

Director of rugby Dean Ryan said he didn’t think Pennell played very well in Warriors’ 23-19 opening-day defeat against Bristol at Ashton Gate.

“I don’t think Pennell played very well against Bristol,” said Ryan.

“I didn’t he was fit for the Bristol match and I don’t think we got that right.

“I think he’s learned from that so we are not going to rush him back. “ Pennell played in every minute of Warriors’ disastrous relegation campaign from the Premiership last season.

Ryan said: “He’s one of our marquee players and he needs to be right because he needs to be right for international duty.

“The Ben Howard bit is a bit of internal competition and I think it’s really beneficial.

“Ben has benefited from good infrastructure around him and a good reference point in Chris Pennell. “