NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have received a major boost with the return to fitness of young Wales squad back row forward Toby Faletau.

The 20-year-old Tonga-born player has reported fit again after suffering a foot injury which has ruled him out of the last five Dragons games and also forced his withdrawal from Wales’ Six Nations squad.

He is set to go straight into the squad for Saturday night’s tricky away test against Magners League leaders Munster at Musgrave Park in Cork.

With Dan Lydiate missing because of Wales commitments and Gavin Thomas and Faletau injured the Dragons have played the same back row in the last three games – Andrew Coombs, Joe Bearman and Lewis Evans.

The Dragons have also got one eye on the LV Cup semi-final against Gloucester at Kingsholm – their fourth away fixture in a row – so one of the trio on duty for the last three games will step down if Faletau goes straight back into the starting XV.

The rest of the season will be vital for Faletau’s international aspirations as well.

A series of impressive performances led to his call-up for Wales in the autumn series, though the nearest he got to a cap was being on the bench against Fiji.

He was retained in the squad for the Six Nations but had to withdraw within a day of being included .

The Dragons will also wait on the fitness of three other players for their game against Munster and will leave a decision as long as possible.

Outside half Jason Tovey did not start against Glasgow on Friday night because of a slight foot injury, though he went on for Matthew Jones during the second half, while both outside centres will need fitness tests.

Tom Riley is suffering from a thigh injury, not believed to be serious, while Matthew Watkins took a bang against the Scottish side and received lengthy treatment before carrying on.

The Dragons stretched their unbeaten run to five matches at Firhill when they drew 16-16 after a last minute try and conversion denied them another victory.

If they can avoid defeat against Munster it will be their best run since 2004 when they won five games in a row.

The best they have ever done came near the end of their first season when they won six matches in a row, including a win against Munster in Limerick. That is the only time they have beaten the two-times Heineken Cup winners on their own territory.