ASHLEY Smith has only just returned to full training after six months on the sidelines but will answer Newport Gwent Dragons’ SOS against Glasgow on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has not played since suffering a foot injury in the act of scoring against Zebre last March.

However, he is set to wear the 12 jersey against in-form Glasgow at Rodney Parade for a Dragons side that are definitely without three players that started against the Ospreys last Friday.

Fly-half Jason Tovey is out for two to three weeks with a calf problem while the extent of the damage to teenage centres Jack Dixon (wrist) and Tyler Morgan (knee) is yet to be discovered.

The trio could be joined in the stands by captain and full-back Lee Byrne after he was forced from the field with a shoulder injury in the second half of the 17-15 derby defeat.

It means the Dragons are down to the bare bones in the backs for the Warriors clash as they were already without centres Pat Leach and Ross Wardle.

However, they will be boosted by the presence of Smith, whose tally of 145 appearances for the region is bigger than any of his teammates.

“At the moment we are more than depleted but Ashley coming back is a timely boost,” said head coach Kingsley Jones.

“He has got a lot of experience and is influential with his communication. He will be a big help to the youngsters around him.

“It’s a big ask for Ashley after not playing for six months but he is chomping at the bit. He’s been doing backs sessions for a few weeks managing his rehab for a few weeks and has just made a full return.”

Plenty of years have passed since Smith was at Caerleon Comprehensive but the centre would be a reassuring figure for one of the school’s more recent students.

Angus O’Brien did well as Tovey’s replacement against the Ospreys and the Wales Under-20s fly-half is likely to pull the strings against the Warriors live on Sky Sports.

“The positive thing with youngsters is that they have got no fear, as we saw with Angus,” said Jones. “It was great to see a young kid come onto the field and just have a go.

“He reminds me of (former Gloucester and England wing) James Simpson-Daniel when he was 18, it’s like talking to a 35-year-old. I used to say to James act your age, throw some food at someone or tie someone’s shoelaces together! But he is a great lad and I am sure he will deal with it all.”

Geraint Rhys Jones has been called back from his Wales sevens commitments to provide cover for Byrne while Wales Under-20s scrum-half Luc Jones returns to the squad following problems with his knees.

Dragons squad: L Byrne, H Amos, G R Jones, B Nightingale, A Smith, A Brew, M Pewtner, A Hewitt, T Prydie, A O’Brien, D Jones, R Rees, J Evans, L Jones, B Stankovich, O Evans, E Dee, R Thomas, R Buckley, H Gustafson, L Fairbrother, D Way, D Young, I Gough, C Hill, R Landman, M Screech, N Cudd, L Evans, J Thomas, J Benjamin, A Powell, T Faletau.