DRAGONS coach Barry Maddocks has praised the way that Josh Lewis took “adversity on the chin” to battle back for the start at 10.

The 26-year-old from Aberdare signed from Bath last summer and featured in the first eight games of the season.

However, Lewis suffered a dip in form and a nightmare performance against Northampton led to the Rodney Parade region bringing in Jason Tovey on permit from Cross Keys.

Lewis was sent to Ebbw Vale to rediscover his mojo in the Principality Premiership and got another chance in the Dragons’ 10 jersey because Tovey was ineligible for European rugby.

The former stonemason pulled the strings impressively at Clermont Auvergne and picked up where he left off in the heartbreaking last-gasp loss at Cardiff Blues last Friday.

Tovey was on the bench and former Wales playmaker Gavin Henson is fit again after a knee injury, but Lewis is in pole position to start against the Ospreys in Newport on Sunday.

“I am immensely encouraged,” said Maddocks. “Josh kept his position against the Blues from his performance at Clermont.

“Again he showed his quality with the drop goal in the first half and much better control. He is doing really well at the moment.

“He has knuckled down in training and took the adversity on the chin and come out the other end really positively at the moment.

“That’s really encouraging for us and to develop the squad and make things better you have to train against better players.

“That’s what we are trying to do and Tovey came on and also did exceptionally well. That’s the competition that we need throughout the whole squad to drive standards.”

That is the case in midfield where Jarryd Sage and Adam Warren were picked against the Blues ahead of Jack Dixon, while Wales centre Tyler Morgan was sidelined by concussion.

“Jarryd was great again and the role of Adam Warren alongside him cannot be underestimated.

Both played very well and Jack Dixon is pushing them and working hard to get back in the team,” said Maddocks.