NEWPORT Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan could be set to make his return from injury against the Ospreys in Bridgend on Friday night.

The talented 19-year-old centre/wing, who has been attracting the attentions of Wales coach Warren Gatland, has been out of action since suffering a knee injury against the west Walians in round two of the Guinness Pro12.

Morgan is likely to feature in the matchday squad for the LV= Cup encounter at the Brewery Field, providing another injury boost for director of rugby Lyn Jones.

The Dragons lost 31-21 in their Anglo-Welsh opener at Harlequins last weekend but were able to give valuable game time to centre Ross Wardle (knee) and locks Cory Hill (ankle), Andrew Coombs (knee) and Joe Davies (shoulder).

Things are looking up for the region, who had been operating in the Pro12 with Rynard Landman as their only specialist second row forward and Ashley Smith as their sole out-and-out centre.

"Ross played 55 minutes and we were delighted that he got through that without any problem, likewise Cory Hill and Andrew Coombs," said Jones.

"It's positive that we are getting more players available for selection and we will make a late call on Tyler this weekend.

"It would be great to get him on the field for some time and we are trying to get people back on the paddock for Munster."

The Dragons fielded a mixture of youth and experience against the Quins with eight members of their squad – wing Ashton Hewitt, centre Barney Nightingale, scrum-half Luc Jones, lock Davies, flankers James Benjamin and Ollie Griffiths and hooker Elliot Dee – aged 20 or under.

Jones is relishing the chance for the young guns to put pressure on their senior colleagues ahead of the key league clash with Munster at Rodney Parade a week on Friday.

He said: "We beat Wasps in the LV= last year and James Benjamin had a really good game, as did Joe Davies, Tyler Morgan and Ashton Hewitt.

"They all got contracts on the back of that. It's my job to make judgements and form opinions on players so the more games I get to see people play the better that opinion can be."

Hooker Rhys Thomas is set to get the all-clear to return to action against Munster after suffering a shoulder injury against Ulster a fortnight ago.

That leaves Hugh Gustafson and Elliot Dee to shoulder the burden in the middle of the front row in Bridgend as Rhys Buckley is out until the New Year after rupturing a pectoral muscle.

The Dragons need to beat the Ospreys if they are to stand any chance of qualification as Saracens have won both of their games with a fixture against winless London Welsh to come in January.