DAN Lydiate and Toby Faletau have been given the call for the Six Nations but their Dragons teammates Aled Brew and Will Harries have been cut by Wales boss Warren Gatland.

The inclusion of 23-year-old Lydiate in the 28-man squad comes as no surprise given the way that the back row forward performed for his country in the autumn internationals.

Faletau has enhanced his reputation with the Dragons this season but was sweating on his place after Gatland stressed his desire to work with a small squad.

However, the 20-year-old back rower has been given the nod and will hope to get on for his international debut after he was an unused replacement in the draw with Fiji in November.

Wingers Harries and Brew featured in the autumn but miss out this time, though they are not the only casualties.

Out-of-form fly-half Dan Biggar and experienced openside flanker Martyn Williams have both been axed with a pair of Scarlets – Rhys Priestland and Josh Turnbull – picked instead.

Head coach Gatland has stressed, however, that the dropped duo are not out of contention for this year’s World Cup.

“We have decided to give a couple of youngsters a chance this tournament,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean there is no way back for those who have missed out.”

Gatland, whose captain will by hooker Matthew Rees again, is boosted by the return of a raft of stars from injury.

Wings Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny and centres Jamie Robert and Jon Davies all make welcome returns.

There are also recalls for scrum-half Dwayne Peel and speedster Morgan Stoddart while Craig Mitchell and Scott Andrews will be hoping to solve the propping problem caused by tighthead Adam Jones’ elbow injury.

Gatland is hopeful that a smaller squad can help Wales get off to a flying start when England head to Cardiff on Friday, February 4.

“We have deliberately kept the squad as small as possible and have reverted back largely to the philosophy we had during the Grand Slam year in 2008,” he said.

“We want to keep intensity levels up in training and have ensured that we are not carrying players with injury.

“Everyone here is fighting fit and able to take a full part and challenge each other for selection.

“It’s a boost to have one or two players back from injury in the backline with Shane Williams and Lee Byrne both doubts at one stage and Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts returning after being unavailable to us in the autumn, there’s an exciting look about the backs.

“Up front, its well documented that we have lost a couple of players in the front row, but that gives opportunities to others to put their hands up and we are pleased with the options we have got in the pack.

“The forwards have been going pretty well recently.

“We are conscious that we need now to begin to realise our potential and that means winning some games.

“It all starts against England at the Millennium stadium in a fortnight and they don’t come much bigger than that.

“We have a pretty good record against them in recent years and enjoy playing against them, especially at the Millennium Stadium and it is a game that could really set the tone for the season ahead for both sides.”

WALES: FORWARDS: Paul James (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Wasps), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Dragons) BACKS: Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Sharks), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Lee Byrne (Ospreys)