HOOKER Rhys Thomas is set to hand Newport Gwent Dragons an injury boost by returning for their European double-header with Bordeaux Begles.

The region has sorely missed the former Wales front row forward since he suffered an ankle injury against the Scarlets in September.

Thomas, a summer signing from London Wasps, had made a real impression in the early stages of the campaign and had skippered the region against Edinburgh.

The initial prognosis was that the 30-year-old would be out until 2014, although the hooker was swift to set his own target of the festive derby double-header against his former region Cardiff Blues.

And Thomas is set to beat that goal; he will not feature in the RaboDirect Pro12 fixture at Glasgow on Friday or the home league encounter with Munster seven days later but could be back in the fold for the Amlin Challenge Cup clashes with Bordeaux Begles.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones said: "Rhys was targetting a Christmas return but it looks like he will be available for the European fixture, that's a huge boost because we certainly have missed his experience."

The Dragons could head to Glasgow with openside Nic Cudd, who is rated as a possible following six weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

He is joined in the squad by Academy flankers James Benjamin and Scott Matthews, who impressed in the LV= Cup fixtures against the Scarlets and Wasps.

Fellow seven Darren Waters is making good progress after rupturing knee ligaments in pre-season and will return to training soon.

But the news isn't so good in the back three.

The region will be without Hallam Amos, who will be making his Wales debut against Tonga, and their options are reduced further by a foot injury to centre/wing Adam Hughes, who could be out for a month.

Dan Evans is set to start at full-back at Scotstoun with Matthew Pewtner and Will Harries slotting in on the wings.

Scrum-half Richie Rees, fly-half Jason Tovey, centres Pat Leach and Ross Wardle, hooker Sam Parry, lock Matthew Screech and flanker Lewis Evans return to the Dragons squad after they were given a fortnight off for the LV= Cup.

Dragons squad: D Evans, W Harries, M Pewtner, R Wardle, A Smith, P Leach, J Tovey, S Jones, R Rees, W Evans, O Evans, A Coundley, H Gustafson, S Parry, E Dee, D Way, F Chaparro, C Hill, M Screech, R Sidoli, J Groves, S Matthews, J Benjamin, L Evans, N Talei, I Jones, N Cudd.