NEWPORT Gwent Dragons full back Jason Tovey is one of the players in line to replace the stricken Lee Byrne for Wales’ autumn series of internationals which kicks off against the All Blacks on November 7.

Byrne, who has been a revelation for Wales under Warren Gatland and starred for the Lions in South Africa this summer, has been ruled out for around two months with a recurrence of his foot injury.

A scan has revealed ligament damage in his right foot which will now be put in plaster for six weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation.

It gives Gatland a major headache as there are few real specialists able to step into the breach. Options include switching Jamie Roberts from the centre to a position he first occupied on tour with Wales in South Africa last year or play Leigh Halfpenny there, though he is more used to the wing, or switch the versatile James Hook.

But, significantly, Gatland has moved his Wales squad announcement back from Monday to the following Sunday after the next series of Magners League games - and one of the key fixtures that weekend is the derby between the Scarlets and the Dragons on the Friday night.

That should bring Tovey and Daniel Evans, another promising youngster, into direct conflict so it could have a major bearing on Gatland’s plans for next month.

Tovey, still only 20, was called up for Wales’ tour to North America at the end of last season only to have to pull out because of the Dragons’ Heineken Cup play-off in Italy.

He’s had a bit of an up and down season so far, starting just three of the Dragons’ first six games and also being affected by injury while rival Martyn Thomas has also seized the opportunity to impress.

Tovey will not be the only Dragons player to chase a Wales squad place. The most obvious candidate is lock Luke Charteris, currently leading the side, especially with Ospreys rival Ian Evans also sidelined for two months with a chest muscle problem, suffered after a long lay-off for a knee reconstruction.

Back row trio Dan Lydiate, Joe Bearman and Gavin Thomas will also challenge, as will wings Richard Fussell and Aled Brew while scrum half Wayne Evans has his supporters.

Charteris insists the Dragons must beat Glasgow in Friday night’s Heineken Cup clash at Rodney Parade, or face up to near certain exit from the competition after just two matches.

“They are going to be tough, they are probably a better team than Gloucester, they haven’t got many huge stars but a lot of good players with a superb back row and it’s going to be a challenge to nullify them,” he said.

“It’s a huge game because if we lose this realistically we are out of the Heineken Cup, and we don’t want to play the last four games unable to qualify. It was a big test last week against Gloucester and we didn’t pass it so we’ll be looking to put that right.”

On his Wales prospects Charteris said, “I’ll wait until the call comes because you never know. I’ve been out and I’m just looking to try to get a run under my belt, then hopefully force my way in (for Wales) again.

“But I’m looking at the Heineken Cup games and then a massive derby against the Scarlets first.”