THE Dragons have enjoyed a double injury boost with the return to training of back row forward Harrison Keddie and wing Ashton Hewitt, writes Chris Kirwan.

Keddie, who ruptured a bicep this summer, could be in contention for next Friday's European Challenge Cup clash against Northampton at Rodney Parade.

The 22-year-old's return is timely given that Ross Moriarty and Ollie Griffiths are likely to be named in Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the autumn internationals, potentially along with Aaron Wainwright.

Hewitt has been on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury that scuppered his chances of winning a first cap in June.

The speedster suffered the blow in Wales training – made in contact with Dragons teammate Elliot Dee – and had an operation.

The 23-year-old from Newport is likely to miss the Guinness PRO14 clash with Ulster at the end of the month but could return the following week at Connacht.

Wales wing Hallam Amos is targeting the trip to Belfast as his comeback from a dislocated elbow in order to prove his fitness for the Test against Wales, which would make Hewitt's presence welcome in Galway.

"Harrison is doing really well and has a good chance of being back for Northampton while Ashton is doing everything except contact and will be three to four weeks," said head coach Bernard Jackman.

"It's good to have them out on the pitch training with us. Harrison was having a really good pre-season and we were disappointed that he got injured."

The Dragons start their Challenge Cup campaign in Romania against Timisoara Saracens on Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm).

They will be without wing Jared Rosser (concussion) but former Springboks full-back Zane Kirchner is back from his loan spell at Bristol and set to start.

Jackman is taking the opportunity to rest some of his squad but his matchday 23 will include Moriarty, Griffiths, captain Cory Hill and hooker Elliot Dee ahead of next week's autumn squad announcement.

"We're going to give a couple of guys a recovery and regeneration week. Aaron Wainwright, Richard Hibbard and Rhodri Williams will not be involved," said Jackman.

"Hibbs passed the fitness test [on a knee injury] for the game, but that's because it was a Welsh derby. There is no point risking him this week and we need to look after him for the season.

"Aaron has played a lot of games and with our back row options we can freshen him up. Rhodri Williams has played a lot as well, even though he was only a sub against Glasgow it was still a match week."