PAUL Turner last night pleaded with Wales boss Warren Gatland to release flanker Dan Lydiate to boost his depleted Newport Gwent Dragons squad for their trip to Edinburgh.

The back row forward and lock Luke Charteris have been with the national squad this week preparing for the autumn internationals.

Skipper Tom Willis will not feature against the high-flying Gunners after aggravating a calf injury in last Friday’s loss to the Scarlets and hooker Steve Jones is poised to replace him as captain with centre Ashley Smith, who took over as leader last week, rested.

So Turner, who is already without influential number eight Joe Bearman, would dearly love to have 21-year-old Lydiate in his back row to face an Edinburgh side that are full-loaded with internationals.

He called Gatland, who has also involved Dragons starlets Jason Tovey and Aaron Coundley in training this week, to ask for his powerful flanker to be released for the trip to Murrayfield.

Cardiff Blues duo Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams – shoo-ins for the side to start against New Zealand on November 7 – will turn out against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

There is, however, the added complication of the Dragons game being on Sunday evening.

That would effectively rule Lydiate, a possible for the game with Samoa a week later, out of a day of the build-up to the All Blacks clash.

“I expect Luke to be in the matchday 22 for New Zealand but I will speak to Warren, probably tonight, to ask if Dan can be released,” said Turner yesterday.

“We are pretty short on numbers but it’s a difficult one because Dan is away with the squad and I don’t want to spoil any chance of him playing for his country.”

The Dragons are still woefully short on props but scrum-half Wayne Evans returned to training after missing the 18-6 Parc y Scarlets loss with a back problem.

With Smith taking a breather, Tom Riley is set to wear the number 12 jersey instead of 13 with Matthew J Watkins making his first start at outside centre.

“This weekend is an opportunity to put a few wrongs right,” said Turner. “There wasn’t any part of our game that was on the money against the Scarlets.

“They didn’t really threaten, they just made fewer errors. We looked at the game again and we were pretty critical.

“That just wasn’t us. What is often said is that the Dragons are a tough nut to crack with a good work ethic and are passionate up front.

“It’s tough going to Edinburgh, they play good rugby as a team, but after a good heart-to-heart this is an opportunity to put things right.”