Richard Hill has revealed that scrum half Shaun Perry is all set to make a playing return against Harlequins on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) – admitting he has been forced to hold the eager number nine back this week in training!
Perry missed the trip to the capital last weekend to face champions Saracens after picking up an ankle knock against Gloucester.
However, the former England man is now set for a comeback to hand Hill a timely boost with fellow scrum half Jonny Arr all set for a spell on the sidelines.
“Shaun Perry looks to be fit, which is good news,” said Hill. “We have kept him wrapped up in cotton wool for the early part of the week and he will train from tomorrow.
“Is he ready? He is mad for it. He wants to train now and it is only me keeping him out because I don’t want him getting injured before the game.
“Shaun is desperate to train and get out there. He was behind the training session today (Wednesday) and was very vocal and bossing everyone about. But I wanted to keep him out and unleash him on Saturday.”
By comparison Arr, last year’s player of the season, will have a scan later this week on the medial ligament he damaged in the first half against Saracens.
Hill, though, has no plans to bring in any new faces in the scrum half department and has vowed to start youngsters Ollie Frost and Academy ace Joel Dudley if required.
“Jonny (Arr) is having a scan later this week and he is going to be out for two to three weeks. But if the results show anything more sinister it could be four to six weeks. That is a blow,” added Hill.
“The good news is that we have a very talented young scrum half called Joel Dudley in the Academy and obviously Ollie Frost who did really well in the second half against Saracens. That was a big test for him and he passed it.
“We have an exceptionally strong Academy here and rather than bring people in from outside you have got to trust your Academy. Joel Dudley has trained with the team today and does not look out of place at all.
“He is a feisty young scrum half, as they all are if they wear number nine on the back, and I will be very relaxed and confident with him.
“The only person who is not fit is Jonny. The likes of Chris Pennell, Oliver Tomaszczyk, Adam Balding and Neil Best are available.
“However, the ones who have been out with longer term injuries, like Pennell and Tomaszczyk, will play on Monday night at Sixways against Exeter United when we will go very strong.”