WORCESTER Warriors have received a double boost with number eight Gerrit-Jan van Velze and hooker Matti Williams returning to training.

Van Velze, who missed almost the entire 2016/17 campaign due to concussion, sustained a bang to the head in Warriors’ 15-8 defeat at Connacht in the European Challenge Cup last month.

The 29-year-old was ruled out of Worcester’s 41-35 reverse at Harlequins In the Aviva Premiership and played no part in their Anglo-Welsh Cup losses to Sale Sharks and Quins.

But Warriors have confirmed the experienced back rower was “fit to play” ahead of their league clash with Northampton Saints on Saturday (1pm).

Kurt Haupt arrived on a short-term deal as Worcester faced a “crisis” with Joe Taufete’e on international duty with USA and Niall Annett (knee) and Williams (hand) injured.

After Haupt failed a head injury assessment on his debut last Sunday, director of rugby Gary Gold admitted Warriors had been left on “thin ice”.

But Gold hinted Williams could be back in contention for the game against Saints as he overcomes his hand injury.

“Joe got called up for international duty and Matti broke his hand so we had a little bit of a crisis,” Gold sad.

“Kurt will now go through his head injury protocols and we will see if he gets through, so frustrating is an understatement.

“But we have got Jack Singleton and Beck Cutting and Matti is back training again as well.

“We are on thin ice, but we are getting there."

Haupt represented South African side Southern Kings in this year’s Super Rugby season.

“He came on my radar,” said Gold who has recently returned from South Africa.

“He has got a European passport so he qualifies to play in this country.

“It was a win-win situation as we were in short-term need of somebody and we could have a look at him over a couple of weeks.”