By John Walsh

Last updated 11:41, Monday, 09 June 2008

FIVE days ago Joe Haines went to hospital convinced he had broken his right arm and faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Fit again: Joe Haines

But remarkably the 16-year-old Bolton schoolboy expects to be able top ride for Workington Comets on Wednesday at Birmingham.

He will have a practice session on Tuesday and if he comes through that with no ill effects he will line-up in the Premier League clash at Perry Barr.

Haines says: “After I crashed at King’s Lynn the paramedic told me he was 99 per cent certain the arm was broken and to be honest so did I.

“When I arrived at the hospital; the people there thought it was broken but two X-rays later they told me it looked as though I had got away with just ligament damage. It was very sore and swollen on Thursday but it’s gradually got a lot better and I can’t wait to see how it holds-up in a practice session.”

Haines was a spectator at Derwent Park on Saturday when Workington beat the Isle of Wight 53-38 in the home leg of the Premier League Knockout Cup.

Haines will be ready to ride in the return leg a week tomorrow.

The teenager missed yesterday’s 49-41 League win at Glasgow when the Comets operated rider replacement.

With Carl Stonehewer getting through both week-end meetings unscathed after a fortnight’s lay-off, Workington will be set to track a seven-man team again on Wednesday.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “It all depends on Joe, and how he feels after Tuesday’s practice. He will make the decision when he’s been around a track.”

Workington are lying second in the table with Birmingham well down in 11th but the Brummies have ridden fewer meetings than anybody else in the League.