A FAMILIAR face has returned to give Ebbw Vale a timely boost for their crunch clash with Bedwas tomorrow afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

Tighthead prop Kristian Gay will don the colours of the Steelmen again on permit from champions Cardiff.

The 27-year-old, who also played for Brynmawr and Tredegar, is a firm favourite at Eugene Cross Park after being a pivotal figure in Alex Codling’s side that finished as Premiership runners-up in 2007.

He formed a formidable partnership with loosehead Ian George and not only was he a strong scrummager but he was also an influence around the park, providing plenty of ‘go-forward’ and working hard defensively.

Gay followed the head coach to London Welsh before heading back to the Principality and to the Arm’s Park. He is on the comeback from injury and will turn out for the Steelmen to help get back to full fitness.

Gay is not quite a knight in shining armour, as the Ebbw scrum went well in last week’s defeat to Cross Keys, but his return is a real pick-me-up for the squad.

The Steelmen have been plagued by injuries and are just one from bottom after seven defeats from eight games.

And not many of those will have been as galling as the last week’s to the Keys, who won 36-12 despite being under-par themselves.

“We have had some good, constructive training sessions this week with a bit of soul-searching,” admitted forwards coach Christian Loader. “I didn’t think we deserved to lose 36-12 last week and my view was backed up when looking back at the footage of the game.

“A couple of decisions went against us and there were a few key turnovers but on the plus side the scrum went well and the lineouts were at 90 per cent.

“The big thing for us at Bedwas will be looking after possession, we need to be patient and look after the pill. Bridge Field is a hard place to go but we will go there all guns blazing. Our confidence may be a bit low because of our position in the league but if we are streetwise then we can get our noses in front and go from there.

“If we ride out the storm in terms of injuries then I am confident we will be climbing the table soon.”

Gay will not be the only familiar face that the Ebbw faithful will see in action. The Steelmen will lock horns with former skipper and centre Kristian Owen and full-back Andrew McLaughlan, who both joined Bedwas in the summer.