NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have been dealt a huge injury blow with Wales hopeful Elliot Dee facing at least three months after undergoing surgery.

The 22-year-old from Newbridge has gone under the knife after damaging ankle ligaments on his right foot in the pre-season win against Cardiff Blues.

After allowing the injury to settle down, the Dragons consulted a specialist who said it was necessary for the front rower to undergo surgery.

Dee is expected to be out until December at the earliest, a cruel blow for the hooker in his bid to break into Warren Gatland's Wales squad.

The national management team have been keeping close tabs for some time on the abrasive front rower, who was a member of the national Under-20s side that made it to the final of the Junior World Championship in 2013.

However, he won't get the chance to break up the trio of the Scarlets' Ken Owens, the Ospreys' Scott Baldwin and Cardiff Blues' Kristian Dacey for the autumn internationals.

The injury is a setback for the Dragons, who were looking for Dee to make the number 2 jersey his own in his fourth season of senior rugby.

The blow is softened by having experienced former Wales hooker Rhys Thomas leading the charge with Rhys Buckley and summer recruit Darran Harris tussling to be his back-up.

Meanwhile, Dragons loosehead Luke Garrett has joined the Scarlets on loan until December.

The 21-year-old from Tredegar has headed west to provide the Llanelli side with more propping cover while Wales international Rob Evans is out with a wrist injury.

Veteran loosehead Phil John left the Scarlets at the end of last season, leaving Dylan Evans and Wyn Jones to share the duties in their loss to Munster on the opening weekend of the Guinness Pro12.

Garrett has made four Dragons appearances and made his debut against the Scarlets at Judgement Day in 2015.

The former Wales Under-20s international is currently behind summer signings Sam Hobbs and Tom Davies, who made their debuts in Friday's Guinness Pro12 defeat to Ulster in Belfast, in the pecking order.

Phil Price is on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury after having an impressive 2015/16 while Keagan Bale, 20, is also on the books and performed well in pre-season.

The hope is that Garrett can get more experience of senior rugby out west to come back to push his way into the first-team fold at Rodney Parade.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Luke to gain experience, which will benefit the Dragons in the long term," said head coach Kingsley Jones, who can recall Garrett if hit by injuries.