NEWPORT Gwent Dragons wing Hallam Amos expects to return from injury next February after going under the surgeon’s knife today.

Amos, 22, dislocated his left shoulder attempting to score a try late in the second half of Wales’ 32-8 defeat to Australia on November 5.

It wasn’t the same shoulder he dislocated while playing against England in last autumn’s World Cup group game at Twickenham.

Amos has been replaced in the Wales squad by Ospreys speedster Keelan Giles, who could make his debut at the age of 18 this Saturday when Japan come to Cardiff.

For Amos, it means he is unlikely to be fit for the start of next year’s RBS 6 Nations, which get under way on February 4.

Taking to Twitter on the weekend, the medical student said: "The old Christmas shoulder back for another year. Operation set for Monday, aiming to be back in February. Lots of time to hit the books."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that former Dragon Taulupe Faletau may play for Bath against Bristol on Friday night.

If that happens then it could potentially lead to him being available for Wales’ final autumn international against South Africa on November 26.

Number-eight Faletau has been out of action since suffering a knee injury during a pre-season match in September.

Regarded as one of the best in the world in his position, Faletau, 26, has won 61 Wales caps and was a key member of the British & Irish Lions touring party that triumphed in Australia in 2013.

It was feared by some that he wouldn’t even make interim coach Rob Howley’s original 36-man squad for the autumn series.

However, now it seems that he could feature against the Springboks, a side Wales have only ever beaten twice, in 1999 and 2014.

Wales have missed Faletau’s undeniable class in their last two outings, although Ross Moriarty has proved to be a very able deputy playing out of position.

His performance was one of very few positives to come from the thrashing by Australia, while he also impressed at the weekend as Wales bounced back to beat Argentina.