ENGLAND international Chris Pennell has a groin injury and won’t be ready for Worcester Warriors’ home clash with Nottingham in the Greene King IPA Championship on Saturday.

Pennell has missed Warriors’ last two matches but head coach Carl Hogg says the experienced full-back ‘is not far away’ from a return.

“Chris is not far away but he won’t make this weekend,” said Hogg.

“When we’ve got Ben Howard performing as well as he is, there’s no need to risk Chris or rush him back.

“Chris has got an issue with his groin – he picked it up in the week of the Bristol match.”

Hogg admitted players who starred in Cavaliers’ last two performances had created a first-team ‘selection dilemma’ for Dean Ryan and the coaches.

“There are a number of players now putting their hands up — Max Stelling, Dean Hammond and Tiff Eden — and there’s healthy competition.”

“We want to see Christian Scotland-Williamson develop.

We have one or two issues with his back which we are looking to resolve. But, longterm, we want to see him push on. The challenge in the Championship changes week in week out and we need to recognise and adapt to that and find a way to win and to find a way to perform to our potential.”

He confirmed there will be a couple of changes to the Warriors side which won 32- 16 at Doncaster last weekend.

“There will one or two changes, and we are at home, so it’s an opportunity to reward some of the guys who have played well over the last couple of Monday nights and also to freshen up the squad,”

said Hogg.

“It’s a long season and Saturday provides an opportunity for some young lads to go out and perform.”

Hogg said Ryan Mills had joined in with some of the rugby work after a knee injury.

But former captain Jonathan Thomas (calf injury) remains no closer to a return.

“JT is still in the hands of the medics,” said Hogg.