NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have been handed a close-season fitness boost with a host of players who needed operations expected to be ready for the start of the new season.

The biggest concern has been at lock where Rob Sidoli and Scott Morgan both suffered elbow injuries in the same match against Munster at the beginning of March and missed the final two months of the season.

With Luke Charteris out because of a minor problem as well it left Adam Jones as the only recognised lock for a few games which resulted in back row forward Andrew Coombs having to move up.

But Sidoli and Morgan have both had their operations, Morgan having a hip problem sorted as well, and both are on schedule to make the start of the season.

Their presence will be even more important for the first six weeks of the season if, as expected, Charteris makes Wales’ World Cup squad and heads off to New Zealand.

Four front row forwards have also had operations since the end of the season - skipper Tom Willis (knee), Steve Jones (groin), Hugh Gustafson (shoulder) and Ben Castle (knee) along with back row forward Lewis Evans (ankle).

All of them should make the start of the new season, coach Darren Edwards commenting, “It’s good that they’ll be ready for the start, we’ll be putting them back on a fitness programme to help them along.”

But one player definitely ruled out for some time is wing/full back Will Harries, who suffered badly damaged knee ligaments and was ruled out until around Christmas.

Edwards has, however, been to Sophia Gardens to see their new water treadmill hoping Harries can utilise it to try to speed up his recovery time.

“Ronaldo came back six weeks quicker by using one of those, so we’ve got to try to plan a programme for Will so that he can recover a bit earlier if possible,” he said.

Matthew Pewtner is the one back who has had a close season operation after damaging an ankle and he is also expected to make the start of the new campaign.

But with Harries missing the first few months the Dragons will hit problems if Aled Brew is chosen for Wales’ World Cup squad.

That would leave them with Adam Hughes, Pewtner and the untried former Newport player Mike Poole as wings, and Hughes is hoping to make even more of an impression in his preferred centre position after successfully switching there for three games near the end of the season.

Poole has been out for a year after two knee operations, but Edwards is hoping he can make his mark in what would be his debut season for the Dragons.

“I’m interested in Mike, he’s got something about him and I think he’s an excellent prospect,” said Edwards about the tall, rangy winger.

One Dragons player who has avoided an operation after injuring an ankle near the end of last season is centre Pat Leach.

The North Walian has now recovered and is ready to join pre-season training when he will aim to further establish himself after making an impact last season.