CHRIS Pennell is poised for a return to action after nine months out injured when Worcester Warriors travel to Olympus Rugby XV Madrid in the Amlin Challenge Cup a week on Saturday.

The versatile back, who can play full-back or on the wing, has been on the sidelines since rupturing his left anterior cruciate ligament ag-ainst Bucuresti Oaks in the same competition way back in January.

The 22-year-old has now returned to training after having had a knee reconstruction operation and Six-ways director of rugby Mike Ruddock is hoping to be able to call on the academy product for the trip to Madrid’s Campo Universitaria ground.

The Warriors chief said: “Chris is back in training. He is doing the one-to-one contact work and should drop back into full training with everybody else in time to be considered for the Madrid game.”

Meanwhile, Ruddock is set to make several alterations to his side for Thursday night’s cup pipe-opener against Montpellier at Sixways (7.45pm).

Although the Worcester boss wants his side to go as far as possible in the competition, he recognises the need to rest some of his front-line players after an intensive start to the Guinness Premiership campaign.

He explained: “There will be some changes for the game with Montpellier — but we want to balance making several changes against the need for continuity.

“There will be a bit of a mix for the game with people like lock Will Bowley making the panel and one or two of the others who have been on the fringes so far this season.

“Dale Rasmussen will be in the 23, but I need to speak to my medical team and see how he goes in training this week before deciding if he starts or not. He came through 10-15 minutes at Leicester without a problem.”

However, number eight Kai Horstmann, utility-back Calum MacRae and French prop Olivier Sourgens are all making progress with their respective injuries, but none will be fit to face Montpellier.

Ruddock added: “Kai is still a few more weeks away from returning, while Calum might be back for the Madrid game a week on Saturday.

“Calum has had a cast on his broken thumb, but the wires that were put in it have now been removed. He is back doing fitness training and limited skills work, but he should be in full training ahead of the Madrid game.

“Also, Olivier is recovering well from his knee injury and should be available for the Harlequins match at Sixways later this month.”