WINGER Gareth Wyatt is the one Newport Gwent Dragons player who has been on the injured list who will be back in the running for Saturday's Heineken Cup tie against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.
Wyatt is fit again after a damaged shoulder put him out of action for six weeks, though he travelled to Glasgow last Friday as one of the spare players.
With Richard Fussell and Richard Mustoe playing well on the wings, ironically Wyatt could struggle to regain his place unless either is rested after a heavy recent schedule.
But with Kevin Morgan and Martyn Thomas both ruled out Wyatt could even come under consideration for a place at full back, where he has played before.
The other player who will be in the running for the 15 jersey is Aled Thomas, normally an outside half but who has occupied the full back slot as well.
The Dragons are hoping Morgan and prop Rhys Thomas will be back for their final Heineken Cup pool game against Perpignan at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.
Neither player is expected to be out for too long which is just as well for them because new Wales coach Warren Gatland is due to name his first squad next Monday for the Six Nations Championship and the Dragons pair would aim to be in it.
Morgan was a member of Wales' World Cup squad while Thomas made his first start against world champions South Africa in November.
The Dragons are sure to start with Gethin Robinson at tight head against London Irish with Thomas, Jamie Corsi and Lee Harrison all sidelined.
And recent Academy pair Lewis Evans and James Harris will fight it out for a place in the back row if Joe Bearman is ruled out along with Richard Parks, Jamie Ringer, Dan Lydiate and Nic Fitisemanu.
Ringer was seeing a specialist again today about the shoulder injury he suffered against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day while centre Rhodri Davies, a foot injury victim in the same game, is also revisiting a consultant.
But the Dragons believe that all their 13 injured players with the possible exception of Gareth Maule and Fitisemanu will be back in time for their next league game which is a key one against Ulster at Ravenhill on February 15.
If they win that against the side propping up the Magners League table they will be within touching distance of the top three, unheard of elevation considering all their problems.
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