NEWPORT Gwent Dragons wing Tom Prydie will miss the rest of the season because of a serious knee injury.

The 23-year-old Wales international needs surgery on his right leg after suffering the injury in the home European Challenge Cup victory against Pau on December 12.

The Dragons will not release a timeframe for his recovery but Prydie will be targeting a return in 2016/17.

The winger, who suffered an eight-week layoff with a knee injury early in the campaign, got his leg trapped at a ruck and was given oxygen on the pitch at Rodney Parade before being helped off the field.

The post-match hope was that it was nothing serious but a specialist's review of scans reveals that surgery is necessary, leaving the Dragons thin on the ground in the back three given that Wales hotshots Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan are targeting February/March returns from shoulder surgery after being injured at the World Cup.

Ashton Hewitt, 21, has been mightily impressive on the wing for the Dragons this season while Nick Scott did well on the other flank in last weekend's stunning success in Pau.

The only other senior specialist option for the management team is former international Aled Brew although centres Adam Hughes, Adam Warren and Ross Wardle have all played out wide in the past.

The coaches are, however, spoilt for choice elsewhere in the squad for their festive derbies against Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys after the mightily impressive European Challenge Cup win at the Stade du Hameau.

They made seven changes to the XV and the fresh faces responded with a stunning performance and there are now especially big quandaries in the front row, back row and fly-half.

"We've got selection problems – every team needs two first team players and we are getting there," said head coach Kingsley Jones.

"It's a nice problem to have. We are in a position where we are telling somebody that they are missing out and they will be unlucky."

The Dragons host the Blues on Sunday (kick-off 3.05pm) before travelling to the Ospreys on New Year's Day (2pm).