STRUGGLING Poole Pirates have been further rocked by the loss to injury of temporary signing Stefan Nielsen.

The Denmark-born 23-year-old is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg during Poole's 45-45 draw with Wolverhampton last night.

Nielsen took a heavy fall and hurtled into the fence after he had reared awkwardly on the fourth turn of the opening lap of heat 12.

He received a lengthy spell of treatment from paramedics on the track before being taken away in an ambulance.

And although it was initially thought Nielsen had escaped with minor damage to his ankle, an X-ray later revealed a break.

Nielsen, who replaced James Shanes at reserve earlier this month, has fractured the tibia and is waiting to discover whether he has also broken the fibula.

He is likely to be out for a minimum of six weeks and could miss the rest of the season if it emerges he has broken both bones.

Nielsen, who also represents Scunthorpe in the Championship, was just four matches into an initial one month stay with Pirates.

He racked up three heat wins, four seconds and five thirds from 17 rides, amassing 22 paid 26 points.

Nielsen's Scunthorpe team-mate Josh Auty has been drafted in to ride for Pirates against Wolverhampton and Leicester next week.