JOE Bearman has stepped up training this week in a bid to make his long awaited return for Newport Gwent Dragons against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade a week on Sunday — a game which could clinch their place in next season’s Heineken Cup.

Bearman’s season has been severely restricted by groin trouble which eventually resulted in an operation and he has started only six of the Dragons’ 25 fixtures.

That’s a far cry from the previous two years when the No 8 was in outstanding form and twice in a row earned the South Wales Argus player-of-the-year trophy, voted for by the fans.

A Cornishman, he forced his way right to the forefront of Wales selection and would almost certainly have made last summer’s North America tour but he had not quite qualified on residency.

By the time he had in the autumn he was affected by his groin problem and so failed to make the squad for the November internationals.

He has made only two appearances since early October, one of those as a replacement, but he broke down again in December and hasn’t played since.

But he is finally on the mend after a couple of false alarms and if he suffers no reaction in training could be back for the Magners League clash against third placed Edinburgh.

Bearman’s return could not come at a better time for the Dragons, if he makes it, for they are without fellow back row forwards Dan Lydiate, Lewis Evans and Jamie Harris while lock Adam Jones is also out and there is a concern about the fitness of Luke Charteris who injured his neck against Glasgow last Sunday.

It means the Dragons have had to turn to Wales Under-20 cap Toby Faletau, who has started the last three games, and Newport captain Andrew Coombs, who has been a replacement twice and started in Glasgow.

Lydiate is due to have an exploratory operation on the ankle he injured in the first half against the Ospreys.

If major ligament damage is confirmed he won’t just miss the last three games of the season for the Dragons but will also be ruled out of the reckoning for Wales’ game against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on June 5 and also the tour to New Zealand which follows.

Wing Aled Brew is having an exploratory operation on his ankle as well and though the injury is not believed to be as serious as Lydiate’s he is not expected to play for the Dragons again this season.

The Edinburgh match could be a landmark for the Dragons because if they win and if Cardiff Blues beat the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets the night before they will be certain of finishing above their west Wales rivals and would, therefore, be sure of a Heineken Cup place next season.

It would be the first time for five years for the Dragons to avoid being last placed Welsh team. In the first two seasons of regional rugby the Blues were bottom Welsh side each time.