ANDREW Coombs has pledged to come back firing for Newport Gwent Dragons return after visiting some 'dark places' because of a knee injury.

The Wales lock is well on the road to recovery after enduring a series of problems with the left knee that he injured in April's European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final win against Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade.

The 30-year-old had planned to be back in contention by now but had to go back under the knife after his body rejected an artificial ligament.

There is no target date for Coombs but the 10-times capped forward has said it will be "sooner rather than later" as he progresses through the stages of rehab.

"When you've been injured you always come back hungrier and in the past I've played some of my best rugby after returning," he said.

"I'm just excited about getting back on that field and reminding people of what I can do as a player.

"It was a difficult few months trying to work out what was wrong and I am just glad to be moving forward because I've been to some dark places. I can see that return date getting closer and I'm excited."

When Coombs was at his lowest ebb in a bed at the Royal Gwent Hospital he drew inspiration from 'Road to Recovery', the inspirational documentary about Jean de Villiers' comeback from a serious knee ligament injury to captain South Africa at the Wold Cup.

"I saved it until I was in a really dark place and I'm glad because I watched it after one of my later ops," said Coombs.

"It makes you sit up and think to yourself 'just get on with it'. You realise that if he can get over that then you can get over your injury."

Coombs lives a stone's throw from the Dragons' training base in Ystrad Mynach and he is thrilled that the torment of being so near yet so far away is over.

"I've been under the knife five times in the last six months. To come out the other end and enjoy being back with the boys is great," he said.

"You fall out of the circle and miss having a laugh with the boys. You are stuck in the house on your own and I've been in bed most of the time.

"The only good thing was being able to watch 'Homes Under The Hammer', while 'Come Dine with Me' isn't bad, but it's nice to be back in work."

The Dragons return to Guinness Pro12 action next Saturday when they take on Leinster at the Royal Dublin Society.