Dragons back rower Taine Basham suffers broken forearm

The Wales hopeful made a bright start to the New Year's Day fixture in Llanelli but was forced off after 24 minutes.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan said the medical staff believe the 21-year-old from Talywain has suffered a fracture, adding to the region's injury problems in the back row.

Wales forwards Ross Moriarty and Ollie Griffiths (both ankle) are sidelined along with Ben Fry, who had an operation on a torn bicep.

READ MORE: Match report from Parc y Scarlets

It means in-form Harri Keddie and Wales international Aaron Wainwright are likely to be joined by either Huw Taylor, who came off the bench against the Scarlets, or Lewis Evans, who was isolating because of a community coronavirus transmission, against the Ospreys on Saturday.

"Taine was getting back to top form," said Ryan. "It shows the level of our back row that even with Ollie Griffiths out, Ross Moriarty out, Taine out, we've still got a pretty decent back row.

"You should be writing headlines about Harrison Keddie at the moment because he is a standout player for us week in, week out."

IMPRESSIVE: Harrison Keddie has been in fine form for the Dragons

Keddie led the side at Parc y Scarlets and produced another strong, confrontational performance.

The 24-year-old from Llanvaches has been a mainstay of Ryan's XV this season, starting in eight of 10 fixtures and only missing out against Wasps and Bordeaux-Begles because of coronavirus.

"His intellect has grown massively over the last 12 months and his calmness is something that is contagious with others," said Ryan.

"His game is about leading by example, so he has all the ingredients to be a captain of the future."

The Dragons won back-to-back games at Benetton and Glasgow in November and December but has since lost four on the spin after being hindered by injuries, coronavirus positives and self-isolation.

"We were on such a high going into Europe," said Ryan. "Ten years of waiting for the Champions Cup, on the back of two wins when we played really well and with our internationals coming back.

"Then our world turned upside down. What do we do, curl up in a ball and feel sorry for ourselves or keep fielding sides? We have kept fielding sides and they have changed every single week.

"Who knew of Ben Carter a few weeks ago? The same will be said about Aneurin Owen.

"We've got seven, eight, nine of our starting XV not here at the moment. Rather than curl up in a ball we just ask who is next."

However, the Dragons have suffered losses to Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets, failing to score a try in either game.

"It is really easy to just live your life off wins and losses. Sometimes that hides good things that are going on," insisted Ryan, who lost Wales full-back/wing Jonah Holmes to a first-half concussion in Llanelli.

"We looked pretty solid, we knew what we were doing and were very physical. We had moments when we could have got into the game and that's where we can grow.

"We are now pretty competitive most weeks irrespective on who is on the field, because the disruption over the last two or three weeks has been phenomenal.

"I said in the changing room afterwards that it was one of those weeks where I am really proud to be involved with them.

"I can't allow our lives to just go on win/loss because we don't have the resources of the Scarlets, and if the Dragons are disrupted with resources then we are probably more exposed than anybody else."