HEAD coach Will Croker revealed Bournemouth ace Toby Kenneally is this week set to return to full training.

The lock was stretchered off with a broken ankle just nine minutes into Lions’ opening-day defeat to Newbury Blues at Chapel Gate.

The club’s director of rugby initially thought the injury would end Kenneally’s season. But following a successful operation, Croker is delighted to welcome back the linchpin forward.

He told the Daily Echo: “We are looking forward to getting him in the mix and I know he can’t wait to get going.

“He is a really good guy and is hugely respected by all the players. He is one of the hardest workers and is someone who is constantly looking at ways to improve his game.”

With Lions having impressed en route to winning 11 of their 16 league fixtures, Croker is not planning to throw Kenneally straight into the first-team fold.

“It will be lovely just to have him around,” he added.

“We may even start by bringing him off the bench for the seconds and manage his return to play properly.”

Bournemouth went second in the table on Saturday, having secured a 13-7 victory at Camborne.