THE Dragons have signed American centre Thretton Palamo from Bristol on a short-term loan after Sam Beard was ruled out for 12 weeks.

The 28-year-old, who has won 17 caps for the Eagles and played at the 2007 and 2015 World Cups, will make his debut for the region in Friday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Ulster on Friday after a glut of midfield injuries.

Beard will undergo an operation after tearing his left pectoral muscle against Edinburgh a fortnight ago while Tyler Morgan suffered a minor rib injury in last Friday’s 21-8 win against Connacht.

Adam Warren, who has not featured so far this season, was set to play in Belfast but has strained a hamstring and won’t be risked while Zane Kirchner, who has started the season at full-back but can play at 13, is set for a lengthy spell out after dislocating his right shoulder last week.

Palamo, who can also play on the wing, has had short spells at Biarritz, Saracens and London Welsh and has played 50 matches for the USA in the World Rugby Sevens World Series.

The Eagles international has a background in basketball and American football and head coach Bernard Jackman is excited about giving an opportunity to dynamic athlete.

“He is phenomenally talented. He is gifted,” said Jackman. “He has it all but just needs game time.

“He has flaws and doesn’t always put it together; you see lots of flashes of brilliance so it’s just that consistency over 80 minutes. His profile is that he is big, powerful, fast and explosive.”

The Dragons will hand a first appearance of the season to full-back Carl Meyer after the blow to Kirchner.

The former Springbok ace has been sent for a second opinion to determine if he needs an operation and could potentially be out for three months.

"Zane has been brilliant on the field but even better off it in terms of coaching some of those young back three players like Hallam [Amos], Ashton [Hewitt], Jared Rosser, George Gasson," said Jackman.

"Straight away he took a leadership role in terms of mentoring that group and is committed to doing that while he comes back from injury, but we will miss him on the field."

The Dragons will ring the changes for Friday’s trip to the Kingspan Stadium with Wales flanker Ollie Griffiths, 22, captaining the side.

He will be joined in the back row by Max Williams and Robson Blake – who will make their first PRO14 starts – while opportunity knocks for a raft of players who have been waiting patiently for action.

“We will change the team up,” said Jackman. “If you look at our squad for the first three games it has been pretty much the same group bar one or two injuries.

“At this stage of the season as a new coaching staff we are trying to get to know everybody and give them a fair opportunity.

“We played 62 players in pre-season and now they are going to get a chance to play in a PRO14 game at a very, very tough place to go against a very good side. We will find a lot about them by how they react on Friday.

“Hopefully they get a win and five or six of them can show they deserve to play against the Kings.

“It’s easy coming to the coach’s office on a Monday morning and asking ‘why aren’t I getting played?’ but how they play Friday night will dictate when they get more game time, if they do.”

Back row forward Lewis Evans is likely to be out for another month as the Dragons ease him back from an Achilles injury.

“We want him to come back fit and play a big season rather than rush him back now and break down. We are being conservative with him but hopefully that will pay off in the long run,” said Jackman.