FULL-BACK Chris Pennell is being lined up with a return to first-team duty in Worcester Warriors’ European Challenge Cup matches next month.

The 29-year-old England international has been struggling with a persistent neck injury and hasn’t featured for Warriors since the end of last term.

Head coach Carl Hogg says Pennell is “three or four weeks away” from a return to action and is now pencilling in the player’s comeback.

Pennell made 23 appearance last season, scoring two tries and has played 165 times for the club so far.

Hogg said: “We are hoping Chris will be only three or four weeks away so hopefully he will be back for Europe and that block.

“We will look to reintegrate him then and it’s something to look forward to.

“It will be super to have Chris back on board but it’s still a couple of weeks away.”

Warriors open their European Challenge Cup pool three campaign against Russian side Enisei-STM in Moscow on October 15.

Warriors, who finished bottom of their European group last season, then host French outfit Brive in their second match seven days at Sixways (3pm).

With Ben Howard having had an operation on a damaged ankle, Jackson Willison took over at full-back in Warriors’ Aviva Premiership opener against reigning champions Saracens at Twickenham.

Willison started in the number 15 jersey against Gloucester last Friday but reverted to the midfield for the second half after Ben Te’o suffered concussion and Perry Humphreys came on at full-back.

Humphreys made a major impact after his introduction, capping only his second Premiership appearance with a superb individual touchdown.