FORMER Wales lock Andrew Coombs says he'd love to be missed by Newport Gwent Dragons but feels that Cory Hill and Matthew Screech are ready to fill his boots at Rodney Parade.

The 31-year-old was forced to retire at the start of the month after failing to recover from an injury suffered in April 2015.

Coombs spent a frustrating 2015/16 on the sidelines and while his absence did hit the Dragons hard, it did lead to 24-year-old Hill and 23-year-old Screech getting plenty of game time alongside South African second row Rynard Landman.

"They've both done really well and are different sorts of players," said former Newport and Dragons captain Coombs.

"Cory is older in the head than he actually is and is quite a vocal player while Screechy is someone who keeps his head down and get on with things.

"They are both good in their own ways and are two strong second rows there for the Dragons who will hopefully be there for a long time.

"In a selfish way I'd love for them to miss me but I'm a Dragons fan, so really I hope that they don't."

The Dragons, who also currently have Joe Davies, Scott Andrews, James Thomas and Nick Crosswell as second row options, are in their final week of the first block of pre-season. When they return in August preparations will go up a notch with more emphasis on rugby rather than conditioning.

After season in which they won just four of 22 league games, Coombs believes his old teammates must improve their thinking under pressure to climb the table.

"It was a tough season. There was another great run again in Europe and it's just a case of trying to perform like that in the Guinness Pro12," he said.

"It was frustrating because I felt I could have added something to the side when our decision-making cost us. It's important to have senior players out in the field and that was a role that I really enjoyed."

Coombs fought back from being released by the Dragons after suffering shoulder problems as a youngster to earn another professional deal, then win 10 caps for Wales.

September 2, when his old teammates take to the field in the season opener at Ulster, will be tough but the former computer software salesman can reflect on a remarkable and resilient career.

"When I first got released from the Dragons I was offered chances in the English Championship but part of me felt that there was unfinished business with the Dragons, that I still should have been there," he said.

"I was working and playing for Newport when I had a call from (former head coach) Paul Turner who said there was an opportunity to play because they had so many injuries in the back row.

"My first game was over in Connacht and was one of those games when you come off the pitch knowing that you had played well.

"I will never forget coming off the bus and 'Tommy' followed me off and said 'you've proved me wrong, I should never have let you go the first time round!', so staying with Newport paid dividends."