FIT-AGAIN full-back Chris Pennell will make his Worcester Warriors return on Saturday after declaring he’s in his best condition for “two or three years”.

The 29-year-old played in all of Warriors’ 22 Aviva Premiership matches last term despite being hampered by a neck problem for the final five months.

The England international will line up alongside his youthful Warriors team-mates in their European Challenge Cup Pool Three clash against French Top 14 outfit Brive at Sixways (3pm).

It will be Pennell’s first outing in a Warriors shirt since they were beaten 43-19 by Saracens at Sixways in May.

He had an operation to repair a “bulging disc” over the summer, which has allowed him to regain “full strength” in his arm and shoulder.

“I think it has been 168 days since I last played — and that’s a long time,” Pennell said.

“I didn’t realise it had been that long until someone told me, so it explains my behaviour at home and why I have been so grumpy. I am looking forward to getting back out there.

“I really can’t wait. I have to keep reminding myself this is my first week back and I just want to go out and enjoy the match because I tend to be a perfectionist.

“This weekend will be about going out and enjoying the occasion.”

Pennell initially suffered the neck injury in Warriors’ 29-20 home defeat to Leicester Tigers last December — a match which saw lock Donncha O’Callaghan sent off for the first time in his career.

“The injury was first picked up in a match against Leicester and a scan showed a bulging disc,” recalled Pennell.

“We were able to manage it for the rest of the season with an injection and the issue settled down in the off-season.

“However, as soon as we started back in the summer, just due to the intensity of training it started to flare up again.

“Potentially, I could have left it for a month or two but if I had taken another big shunt on it, it could have caused more damage. Now I am feeling great and the best I’ve felt in two or three years.”

Warriors finished bottom of their European group last season after picking up just one win in a tough section with Gloucester, Zebre and La Rochelle.

They slipped to a 19-12 defeat to Russian outfit Enisei-STM in Moscow in their first game last Saturday, while Brive suffered a 37-16 reverse at Newport Gwent Dragons.

“Having watched the footage from last weekend’s match in Russia, we were so disappointed we didn’t come away with a win,” said Pennell.

“I think we were the better team on the day but the boys will dust themselves off for Brive.

“We know it will be hugely physical for the first 15 to 20 minutes and our guys up-front have a big responsibility to match them.

“Brive will have big wingers and centres who will come hard down the channels and our boys in the back-line will need to step up off set-piece.

“If we can match Brive’s intensity in the first 15 to 20 minutes, I am confident the game will open up.

“We want to get Brive’s big guys moving around on our fast track so we can put them away in the second half.”