RYAN Mills has made a shock return for Worcester Warriors as he has been named at fly-half against Gloucester at Kingsholm in the Aviva Premiership on Friday (7.45pm).

The versatile back has missed Warriors’ opening three games due to hip and shoulder problems and appeared to be a couple of weeks away from making a comeback.

But with Tom Heathcote out with concussion, Mills has been thrust into the starting line-up to face his former club.

David Denton has also made a quicker-than-expected recovery as he has been drafted onto the bench following Matt Cox’s bicep injury.

Mills’ inclusion is one of three changes to the starting line-up, with Peter Stringer handed his first start at scrum-half in the absence of Jonny Arr (concussion) while Alafoti Fa'osiliva slots into the back row in place of Cox.

New loan signing Jono Kitto, who joined from Leicester Tigers earlier this week, is among the replacements along with Dean Hammond who has been restored to the squad.

Worcester Warriors

15 Josh Adams.

14 Perry Humphreys.

13 Jackson Willison.

12 Ben Te’o.

11 Bryce Heem.

10 Ryan Mills.

9 Peter Stringer.

1 Ryan Bower.

2 Jack Singleton.

3 Biyi Alo.

4 Donncha O’Callaghan (C).

5 Pierce Phillips.

6 Alafoti Faosiliva.

7 Sam Lewis.

8 GJ van Velze.

Replacements.

16 Joe Taufete’e .

17 Ethan Waller.

18 Gareth Milasinovich.

19 Christian Scotland-Williamson.

20 David Denton.

21 Jono Kitto.

22 Dean Hammond.

23 Jamie Shillcock.