United Rugby Championship: Glasgow v Dragons (Sat) - O'Brien and Evans return for visitors

Former Wales U20s international Angus O'Brien joined Dragons from Scarlets in 2022

Angus O'Brien returns from a broken arm at fly-half for Dragons' United Rugby Championship (URC) match at Glasgow on Saturday.

Cai Evans is named at full-back after being released back to the region from Wales' Six Nations squad.

Scotland loose-head prop Jamie Bhatti will make his 100th appearance for Glasgow Warriors.

Ben Afshar will make his first start in professional rugby after being named at scrum-half.

For former Exeter wing Facundo Cordero it will be a first appearance for Glasgow, while lock Ruaraidh Hart could make his debut from the bench.

Ben Afshar makes his first start in professional rugby after being named at scrum-half.

Bhatti is one of four players released from Scotland camp for the fixture along with hooker Johnny Mathews, fly-half Ross Thompson and centre Stafford McDowall who captains the side.

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O'Brien, 29, was injured during Dragons' defeat by Munster in November and his return was welcomed by Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan who described the outside-half as "an energizer bunny running around the place".

Dragons Academy product Oli Andrew will make his senior club debut on the left wing with Flanagan without 21 players due to injury or international call-ups.

Hooker Sam Scarfe could make his debut from the bench while young scrum-half Che Hope could also make his first appearance of the season.

Samoa prop Aki Seiuli could face his former club off the replacement bench.

Glasgow are third in the table and are unbeaten at home in the league all season.

Dragons are one place off the bottom with their only two wins both at home - 13-12 over Scarlets in their last URC outing on 1 January and 20-5 against Ospreys in November.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: "Any trip to Scotstoun is tough. Glasgow are a well-coached team and when they lose an international team they bring another one in to replace them.

"They have a lot of experienced players they can bring in for this period and that means they will be a real test.

"We have a lengthy injury list, without making excuses, but that brings opportunity and exposure to players who can go and grab the chance."

Glasgow: Josh McKay; Facundo Cordero, Stafford McDowall (capt), Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie; Ross Thompson, Ben Afshar; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Max Williamson, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Thomas Gordon, Henco Venter.

Replacements: Angus Fraser, Nathan McBeth, Oli Kebble, Ruaraidh Hart, Sintu Manjezi, Gregor Hiddleston, Sean Kennedy, Duncan Weir.

Dragons: Cai Evans; Jared Rosser, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Oli Andrew; Angus O'Brien, Dane Blacker; Rhodri Jones, James Benjamin, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Sean Lonsdale, George Young, Dan Lydiate.

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, Barny Langton-Cryer, Sam Scarfe, Che Hope, Will Reed, Joe Westwood.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam & Michael Todd (SRU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)