WORCESTER Warriors vice-captain Will Butler has returned to full team training after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in September.

The 22-year-old has struggled with an ankle problem that he first encountered in a game against bath in 2019 and suffered a further set-back a year later with the same issue.

But Warriors’ director of rugby Alan Solomons has explained he is now approaching a return.

“He (Butler) is back training now” he said.

“He is looking good and back with the team and hopefully he will be in contention for next weekend.”

But there was some bad news for Sam Lewis, who limped off early during Worcester’s pre-season win over Northampton Saints last weekend.

The back-row forward is a consistent feature of the side and would have been involved on Saturday in Warriors’ opening Gallagher Premiership clash with London Irish at Sixways.

“The only guy that took a knock and it was a really nasty dead-leg, was Sammy Lewis” Solomons added.

“It was a sore one and he is a big doubt for this weekend.”

The South African offered an update on a number of other players, suggesting that the likes of Conor Carey, Tommy Howe, Perry Humphreys and Ashley Beck have returned from injury and are back in training.

Beck is expected to be fit enough to be considered for this weekend’s game with Irish, whilst the other three are more likely to be available for the clash with Bristol Bears next weekend.

Graham Kitchener remains out for the moment as he continues to recover from his foot injury and will not be considered for now, whilst Lewis Holsey (shoulder) Matt Moulds (foot) Matt Cox (ankle)Matti Williams (head) remain on the sidelines.

Solomons insisted club captain Ted Hill could return to the Warriors this weekend due to him being released from the England camp yesterday.

Hill, who has been with Eddie Jones and the England camp for the last two weeks, has not managed to feature for the national side but could well slot in the back-row to line-up against London Irish on Saturday afternoon.