THE Dragons will be without captain Ben Carter for a vital block of fixtures after he was ruled out until February because of a knee injury suffered with Wales.

The 12-times capped lock, who played every minute of the first six games in the United Rugby Championship, was called up for the autumn internationals but suffered the blow to his left leg in the first week of training.

Carter, who missed much of last season with a hamstring injury, was immediately released from Wales camp after scans revealed medial collateral ligament damage and he has had an operation.

The 23-year-old from Caldicot will now target a return in February when the Dragons play a pair of United Rugby Championship fixtures against Glasgow and Zebre Parma during the Six Nations.

LEADER: Dragons lock Ben Carter is eyeing a February return after a knee operationLEADER: Dragons lock Ben Carter is eyeing a February return after a knee operation (Image: Michael P Ryan/Huw Evans Agency)

Interim head coach Filo Tiatia said: “We are pleased that surgery was a complete success for Ben, and he has now started his journey to recovery with our medical and support staff.

“Ben has our full support and very best wishes, and we will look forward to his return next year.”

Carter will miss the next block of games as the Rodney Parade club start life after Dai Flanagan, with Tiatia calling the shots for the first time at Cardiff a week on Saturday.

The Dragons face a run of fixtures that will shape their season with three derby games and the group stages of the Challenge Cup.

The loss of Carter leaves them with Matthew Screech, George Nott, Steve Cummins and Joe Davies as their senior specialist options.

Leader Nott and experienced Aussie Cummins, a summer signing from Pau, were hit by injury for the first block of fixtures and must now step forward.

Davies, whose last URC appearance was in February after missing the run-in with concussion and then being down the pecking order, has pushed for a senior return by featuring for Pontypool and captaining the Dragons in development fixtures.

The quartet are backed up by flanker/locks Shane Lewis-Hughes and Ryan Woodman with promising prospects Barny Langton-Cryer and Nick Thomas developing with Newport RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru.