NEIL Middleditch has warned Darcy Ward against rushing back before he is ready – because he could risk suffering a long-term injury.

The Poole team manager believes Pirates’ number one should resist the temptation of returning to the saddle until he regains full fitness.

Ward is racing to return in time to feature for Australia in next week’s Speedway World Cup.

The two-times global under-21 champion has been receiving intensive treatment since breaking his hand in action for Polish club Torun on June 17.

Ward underwent an operation to repair the damage and is targeting a comeback in World Cup event two at King’s Lynn on Monday.

Coincidentally, Australia will lock horns with Middleditch’s Team Great Britain in the battle for qualification at Norfolk Arena.

But with his Pirates hat on, Middleditch says Ward should not compete unless his hand is given the green light after medical advice.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “He has got some metal-work in his hand and I said to him ‘can you imagine the pain if you hurt it again?’ “It could be long-lasting and put him out for the season if he did happen to knock it again.

“I would prefer him to take all the time that is necessary to get himself fully fit.

“I know in Poland he is under great pressure to ride out there. But, hopefully, he will take the sensible option and take the advice of the doctors.

“They are very good, he is having intensive physio and they really are looking after him over there, but I just don’t think he should rush back.

“He will know the minute he tries to sit on a bike. He should be honest enough with himself to say whether he is fit or not.”

Ward, who is likely to make his Pirates comeback in the home clash with Belle Vue on July 18, admitted on social networking website Twitter that the World Cup “might just be a bit much”.

He also confirmed that he was due to have an X-ray tomorrow ahead of a possible practice session on Saturday.

Middleditch added: “The problem is holding on to it for four laps. It is not just like riding a standard motorcycle down the road. We have all seen the way Darcy and the boys ride, it is quite a physical work-out.

“He has to have some strength in that hand because if he loses grip in the middle of a corner, he could end up getting hurt again.

“I fully expect him to ride in the World Cup because it is a competition he wants to be in.

“Hopefully, he will take the sensible option and takes the doctor’s advice.”