Full back Jordan Williams is set for an enforced spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury in the European Challenge Cup victory over Enisei-STM.
Williams – who has made 33 senior appearances for Dragons – sustained an ACL injury in the win in Russia and will now undergo surgery in London.
The highly-rated 26-year-old will finalise his recovery process following surgery, but Ryan admitted it was disappointing news for Dragons.
“It’s incredibly disappointing for any player. Jordan was playing some of the best rugby that I have seen from him and his counter-attacking is up there with the best,” said Ryan.
“The timing hurts us as a club because he is so influential in lots of things that we have been good at.
“The key is to have the surgery and start looking forward on what is always a long journey back from that sort of injury."
Ryan has now backed his squad to step up with Williams ruled out.
“We’ve got some options and one person’s mishap is another’s opportunity, that’s where we need to be as a club,” he added.
“It happened with Josh Lewis, which made it about Arwel Robson and Jacob Botica behind Sam Davies.
“That has been a big emphasis for us because in the past we have very reliant on a small group of players. Young players grow to a point and then have to get a raft of games.”
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The key is to have the surgery and start looking forward on what is always a long journey back from that sort of injury...
