ZACH Wajtknecht was encouraged by his first performance for Swindon Robins since returning from his nine-day absence after suffering from concussion following a crash in Glasgow.

The Robins reserve missed three of the club’s SGB Premiership fixtures after crashing out of the World Under 21 Team Cup semi-final while riding for Great Britain.

His absence hit Alun Rossiter’s side hard as the Blunsdon outfit managed to record only three league points from those meetings, with two of those being at home.

While the Robins slipped to another loss on the road at King’s Lynn Stars on Wednesday night, Wajtknecht was pleased with his own personal performance at the Adrian Flux Arena.

Wajtknecht will now face his first meeting at the Abbey Stadium in more than a month this evening when Swindon host Wolverhampton Wolves in another crucial Premiership contest.

He said: “My set-up improved as the meeting went on at King’s Lynn.

“We needed a shared heat in the last one and we just missed out, but it’s good to come back. Given we only had six riders, the result wasn’t too bad.

“Monday’s opponents, Wolverhampton, are going well at the moment, but then again everyone is and it’s really tight in the table.

“You can’t take anyone too easy. It will be a good meeting for us and I can’t wait to get back on home shale.”

Wajtknecht was thrown into the deep end with barely a lap completed during heat two of the Robins’ last meeting.

Fellow reserve Jack Smith crashed in spectacular fashion, meaning the Bristol-based youngster had to complete seven rides to ensure Robins were represented in all 15 heats.

A pair of third places and two paid third finishes meant Wajtknecht experienced a fair start to his return in Robins colours.

Wajtknecht said: “It was a good night for me.

“I didn’t really expect seven rides, but that’s how it is. Near the end I got a bit more comfortable, that’s the main thing about riding.

“It was a nasty crash and I’m glad Jack (Smith) isn’t suffering too much from it. I was looking forward to coming back, and I would rather come back to a home meeting.

“We only just missed out, Monday against Wolverhampton will be good for us.”

Swindon have named a full-strength line-up for tonight’s meeting against Wolverhampton, with skipper Nick Morris racing at King’s Lynn and Sheffield last week with no ill effects from his crashes in the home win over Leicester seven days ago; whilst reserve Smith is expected to take his place after withdrawing at the Adrian Flux Arena.

SWINDON: Nick Morris, David Bellego, Adam Ellis, Tobiasz Musielak, Troy Batchelor, Zach Wajtknecht, Jack Smith.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Jacob Thorssell, Ashley Morris, Kyle Howarth, Sam Masters, Rory Schlein, Cameron Heeps, Nathan Greaves.