INJURY-plagued Kyle Newman received a timely boost after it was revealed the sharp pains in his elbow had been caused by an infection.

The Poole Pirates reserve feared the worst following crashes in round one of the Grand Prix qualifiers in Gorican, Croatia and at Wolverhampton on Monday but quickly received the all clear after undergoing an X-ray.

Newman is set to miss tomorrow’s Elite League trip to Lakeside (7.30pm) while he recuperates but the Dorset-based charger welcomed the news after a stop-start opening to his 2015 campaign.

Newman told the Daily Echo: “Thankfully, none of the bones are broken. It turns out after getting a couple of cuts in the crashes that I picked up an infection.

“Of all the possibilities, that is the best outcome because it is the easiest and quickest one to fix.

“When I heard, I had hoped to come back on Friday but I would not want to rush things. I want to do a good job for Poole and do myself justice as well so I will make sure I am right.”

On his season to date, Newman added: “On the bike I feel great. My starts are lacking at the moment but I feel like I have the speed. Hopefully, it will all start falling into place without any more crashes or injuries.

“It is unfortunate. It has mostly been down to silly crashes, first-bend pile-ups and the like. They have not necessarily been my fault all the time and that’s gut-wrenching but you have to roll with the blows in speedway.

“Sometimes you go through a period like this and you just have to ride yourself out of it.”