NEWPORT rugby star Jason Jones-Hughes will be out of action for the best part of a year after a major knee operation to repair cruciate ligament damage.

The Australian centre was operated on at the world renowned Sheffield Sports Medicine Clinic and all the indications are that the operation was successful.

Nevertheless Jones-Hughes faces a long period of rehabilitation and physiotherapy - estimated at eight to nine months - before being able to resume his career. He said, "It seems that the op went very well and that the doctors are pleased, so from here on in it's down to me I guess!

"Throughout the rehabilitation process I'll be working very hard on getting the knee right and on keeping myself in good shape so that I can hit the road running when I get the green light to resume playing.

"Even though it's been just a couple of days since the op, I feel very positive and can't wait to get back and start setting myself some realistic goals for next season." During his enforced break, Jones-Hughes will be heavily involved in Newport's off-field activities.

Chief executive Keith Grainger said: "Everybody at the club wants Jason back in action as soon as possible and we all sympathise with him tremendously.

"He couldn't have tried harder during training but unfortunately the damage to his knee meant that he wasn't going to be 100% right without having the operation and a long period of rest and rehab.

"Once he is able to get about, Jason will take on an ambassadorial role for the club, liasing with our corporate and business partners and with certain sectors of the media." lNEWPORT have chosen a strong side to play Caerleon on Sunday in a game originally meant to be for the under-21s

Wales lock Ian Gough gets another chance to prove his fitness after his shoulder injury while hooker Paul Young also plays after being out with a calf injury. Emyr Lewis, Martyn Llewellyn, Ben Breeze, Jason Strange and Gareth Taylor, who have hardly featured for the senior side, also play.

A number of Newport under-21 players from last year, some still qualified, are also included.

Ceri Jones will be at tight head prop while Joe Powell will play if Taylor fails to come through a fitness test.

Team: E Lewis, M Llewellyn, N Brew, H Luscombe, B Breeze, J Strange, L Lane, D Pattison, P Young, C Jones, D Cross, I Gough, G Taylor, S Waldron, G Gravell. Replacements: D Evans, C Thomas, J Powell, AN Other, D Warwick, S Thomas, M Thomas. Kick-off 3pm.