SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter admits Jason Doyle would be irreplaceable for his side if the captain’s injury turns out to be a serious one.

Doyle crashed while racing for his Polish side Zielona Gora last Sunday, with reports in Poland initially suggesting that the Australian had broken two metatarsals in his right foot.

However, Zielona Gora boss Marek Cieslak has since revealed to the Polish media that the injury is not as bad as first feared and that surgery is not required.

Doyle therefore plans to compete in Friday’s practice event ahead of this weekend’s Danish Grand Prix to see if he will be fit enough to continue his world championship challenge.

Rossiter has not been able to touch base with Doyle yet and is hoping the injury is only a minor one, with the Robins due to return to action in the SGB Premiership on June 29 when they host Wolverhampton Wolves.

If the injury worsens and forces Doyle into an extended spell on the sidelines, it would be a hammer blow for Rossiter and his side.

“I haven’t spoken to him, unfortunately. I have been away and I have not been able to get in contact with him because I have only just got back,” said Rossiter.

“I’ve been told he missed some meetings in Sweden, so I take it there is something wrong but to what extent, I really don’t know at the moment.

“I am sure we will have a conversation. We do keep in contact and he does keep me up to date normally. I am not too stressed at the moment because we don’t need him until next week.

“When you hear news like that, you just think who can you get replace him, and to be quite honest, there isn’t really anybody who can replace him, in my opinion. It would be very difficult.

“We’ve just got to hope he comes though OK and is back for us next Thursday.”

Rossiter fully accepts Doyle’s eagerness to compete in Saturday’s GP, with the Aussie currently second in the world championship standings and just a point behind leader Patryk Dudek, with the Swindon boss well aware that going through the pain barrier is part and parcel of the sport.

“Knowing Jason, like any speedway rider, there is probably an injury but he will just battle on through it,” said Rossiter. “I can understand why he wants to race this weekend and as long as he is there and gets a few points on the board, I am sure he will be fine with that.

“Riding again could aggravate it but that’s the case with any injury. That’s speedway riders all over for you, they are just a different breed compared to anyone else.”