With the weather causing fixture cancellations throughout the Magners League and Gatland having spent Christmas in New Zealand with his family – Lydiate’s enforced absence should not be terminal.

Lydiate, 22 last month, forced his way into Gatland’s squad for the autumn internationals after a series of sterling performances for the Newport Dragons.

He made his debut as a replacement eight minutes from the end of the match against Argentina and was then called up for his first start in international rugby when skipper Ryan Jones withdrew from the Australia game with a back problem.

Centre Ashley Smith, the former Wales Under-20 captain, has also recovered from injury after being out for three months and will be in the reckoning for the Glasgow match.