WIMBORNE Road crowd favourite Darcy Ward expects to be riding again by the end of the month and he admits he is keen on returning to Pirates’ line-up.

The 21-year-old Australian fractured his shoulder in the Swedish Grand Prix at the start of May and was replaced in the one-to-seven after Poole’s disastrous start to the Elite League campaign.

Promoter Matt Ford has suffered more selection headaches following Ward’s enforced omission, with new boy Tomas H Jonasson injured and Pole Robert Miskowiak making a swift exit after his tumultuous campaign.

Ward, who hopes to be back for the Danish GP on June 29, confirmed he had spoken to Ford about a return but concedes that averages may prevent his reintroduction this season.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on Wednesday, Ford refused to rule out a 2013 Poole comeback for Ward but said he would wait before making a final decision. And in an interview with the Speedway Star, Ward said: “The team is stronger now and it will be hard for me to get back in.

“If I don’t get back in, I’ll understand. I spoke to Matt (Ford) and he’s going to try, but we don’t know what’s going to happen for the rest of the season.

“We’ll just keep the door open and see what happens. Matt wants the team to win and I’d like the team to win too. It would be good to be at Poole, but whatever his decision is, I’ll respect it.”