ASHTON Hewitt still dreams of winning a first Wales cap, but the winger insists his focus has got to be on helping the Dragons flourish under Dean Ryan.

The unlucky 25-year-old’s hopes of Test rugby were dashed by concussion in early 2017 and then a shoulder injury ahead of the 2018 summer tour.

He sampled the international environment again following a call-up to Wayne Pivac’s set-up for the non-cap game against the Barbarians last autumn, though he didn’t feature in the matchday squad.

Winger is becoming something of a problem position for Pivac in this year’s Six Nations, with Josh Adams ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Tuesday.

George North’s future participation also remains unclear after his blow to the head in the France defeat last weekend.

But when asked if others’ misfortune could work in his favour, he said: “I have ambitions, I think everyone does, but when it comes to focus, it’s got to be on the Dragons.

“Like I’ve always said, if I do my job here then hopefully the opportunity comes knocking.

“I’ve been unfortunate with some injuries and haven’t been able to give the best account of myself and put my name up for selection.

“There’s that frustration there, but the first step is getting a run of games for the Dragons before worrying about getting called up for the Six Nations.”

Newport-born Hewitt was on the scoresheet for his region in Glasgow last time out, that second-half try coming as the winger returned from a torn calf muscle.

He will hope to build on his comeback performance at Scotstoun Stadium by aiding the Dragons’ push for a Guinness PRO14 victory over South Africa’s Cheetahs on home soil this Saturday.

“I tore my calf which out me out for a couple of weeks,” he added. “That was frustrating but it wasn’t anything major and I’m back to normal now.

“It was nice to get a try, obviously, but you’d rather the result go your way.

“Luckily the charge down fell to me, I don’t get too much luck like that, so it was nice to get an easy run-in.

“There were a lot of positives to build on and take into Saturday’s game, even from a defeat.

“We’re building well. Our performances have shown we’re doing that and hopefully we can keep making improvements, keep ourselves in games and get results.

“We’re playing positive rugby. Results that haven’t gone our way haven’t come with poor performances.

“We’ve got a good atmosphere and environment, and Dean is challenging the boys really well.

“I think everyone is learning a lot more than they have done in the past.

“It can be hard at times keeping up with the pace at which we need to learn.”