CENTRE Ashley Smith is set to make a rapid return from injury to boost Newport Gwent Dragons' European challenge, writes Chris Kirwan.

The influential 27-year-old had an operation on his jaw after being injured making a tackle in the opening stages of the region's win against Bucharest at Rodney Parade in December.

It was expected that he would face at least two months on the sidelines but Smith could return in next weekend's crunch European Rugby Challenge Cup encounter with Stade Francais at Rodney Parade.

The management team are poised to stick with the young pairing of Wales hopefuls Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan for Saturday's fixture with Newcastle at Kingston Park, which should decide Pool Three top spot, but have be helped by the input of experienced Smith at their Ystrad Mynach training base.

"Ashley will probably be our travelling reserve this weekend but there is no point in rushing him back," said head coach Kingsley Jones.

"He has returned remarkably quickly and could well be right for this week but there is no need to force it with the two young lads doing well.

"It's great to have Ashley back, he is a big influence on everybody, has plenty of experience and a positive member of the squad."

Former Wales hooker Rhys Thomas is targeting the pool stage finale against Stade Francais but will miss this weekend's trip to Kingston Park with the groin/hip injury that forced him to pull out of the Boxing Day win at Cardiff Blues at the last minute.

That means that Hugh Gustafson will be Elliot Dee's back-up as Rhys Buckley, a replacement against the Ospreys last weekend, was deregistered from the European squad to make room for tighthead Brok Harris when the initial prognosis on a torn pectoral muscle was that he would be out until February.

Back row forward Lewis Evans is being monitored after being forced off at the Liberty Stadium following a blow to the head and could possibly be on the bench against the Falcons with in-form blindside James Thomas returning to the starting line-up.

Wing Aled Brew is back in training and is poised to return in the LV= Cup encounters with Exeter and London Welsh next month.

Loosehead Boris Stankovich is set to start running again next week after being absent for two months with a knee injury. Full-back Lee Byrne and centre Pat Leach remain in the long-term injured group.