NEWPORT lock Ben Thomson faces another long lay-off after again damaging an anteria cruciate knee ligament, writes Paul Tully.

The youngster, who joined Newport from the Harlequins in January last year, was off for eight months and needed reconstruction surgery after first damaging his knee on Wales Under-21s duty.

He returned last month and played just one full game before damaging the same knee in warming up before Newport's Konica-Minolta Cup match with Merthyr.

He initially hoped it was a minor cartilage problem, but it turns out he has ripped the ligament from the bone again and will be out of action for a whole year.

"It's very disappointing for Ben. He had worked hard to get back fit and for it to collapse under him in a warm-up is a bitter pill to swallow," said Newport coach David Rees.

Newport vice-captain Matthew Veater, who returned after a nine-weeks absence with a broken thumb at Neath on Saturday, is also injured again.

He suffered badly bruised or cracked ribs in a heavy tackle just before half time and has been in a lot of pain this week and unable to train.

Scrum half Matthew Thomas (shoulder) and centre and skipper Rhys Shorney (ankle) were also injured but Newport hope all will be fit for the next Welsh Premier Division game at home to Aberavon on Saturday week.

Scrum half James Ireland, another who has played little rugby in the past year because of serious knee problems, is set to return in a month after the latest operation to repair a tear in and clean cartilage from a knee.

Meanwhile the club's rearranged game with Llandovery will go ahead on February 25 after Llandovery declined to switch dates again.

Newport asked for the game to be moved because coach David Rees and several players will be involved on Wales Under-21 duty in Ireland on February 24.

However, remaining with the February 25 date means Newport will be able to call on wings Gareth Chapman and Richard Fussell, hooker Andrew Brown and prop Gethin Robinson as the Dragons don't play that weekend, while Rees will fly back from Ireland for the game on the Saturday morning.