Morgan confident he can challenge in midfield

YOUNG Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan knows he has five weeks to impress new Wales head coach Rob Howley before the autumn internationals and force him to to reshuffle his established midfield order.

Morgan, 20, knows he has a tough task displacing bighitters such as Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams in Wales’ midfield, but he is undaunted by the challenge.

Morgan, below, was the youngest member of last year’s World Cup squad and impressed before injuring his shoulder against South Africa in the quarter-final.

How he is hoping to make his first international start since that defeat at Twickenham.

“I’m confident, and it’s going to be a big autumn ahead,” the Newport-born youngster told The Rugby

Paper. “It all depends on how the early season goes and I feel now that if I play well there’s a potential position up for grabs.

“Jamie and John are playing really well as they have for a number of years, but I think there’s room for another centre there.”

Morgan believes that Howley’s appointment as interim head coach could help his prospects.

“He’s been there for a while and been the backs coach for ages,” says Morgan. “I already have a good relationship with him and I know it’s important to impress him – he’s going to have a big influence on how my career goes.”

Morgan certainly has his supporters at regional level, with Dragons coach Shaun Connor lauding his leadership as a game-changer.

While he hopes to get the call before Christmas, Morgan is targeting a place on Wales’ summer tour when senior players should be absent on Lions duty.

“There is a summer Pacific Islands tour and I feel I’m in the mix for that. That could be a good opportunity for the younger boys to get some experience.”