By John Walsh

Last updated 13:30, Friday, 29 August 2008

FORMER Workington Comets rider Kenneth Hansen has joined Birmingham Brummies after spending the season in the Elite League.

The young Dane has just been released by Wolverhampton and snapped-up by the Premier League club who have been had an amazing run of bad luck with injuries this season.

Canadian star Kyle Legault will be out for the season after breaking his jaw last week and Hansen will take his place for next Wednesday’s home match with Somerset.

He goes into the Birmingham side on a 7.3 average and was due to complete his Wolverhampton commitments last night against Belle Vue but was forced to drop-out with a virus.

Graham Drury, the former Comets team manager said: “I actually brought him to Britain when I was at Workington when he rode in the Cumberland Classic. I

would have liked to sign him for Birmingham when I moved there but Ian Thomas also liked the look of him and he joined the Comets.

“Unfortunately he was injured after only a handful of meetings at Workington and didn’t get the chance to get back in the side.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on his progress this season with Birmingham and was topped-off he might be released by the Wolves.

“I’d heard one or two clubs were sniffing about so I had to move quickly and get him signed-up for Birmingham almost as soon as he was officially released.

“I’m delighted that we’ve got him until the end of the season and I’m sure he’ll do a good job for us.”

Hansen has ridden in 17 Elite League matches for the Wolves, winning seven races from 76 starts and has a green sheet average of 3.68.

Workington will find out today whether their own number one Daniel Nermark is going to take the next step on the comeback trail.

If his practice session in Sweden went without any problems then he will ride in a League match tonight and then, with no further set-backs, will be ready to resume at Derwent Park on Saturday night against Glasgow.

“After what we saw against Berwick on Monday I think we are in need of a pick-me-up and the news that Daniel is fit to ride for us would be the perfect boost.

“I don’t think we’ve realised what a miss he can be, and perhaps we’d got away with it until the two Berwick matches made it glaringly obvious that we missed him.”

While Workington hope to have their number one back for Saturday, Glasgow have just got their main man back over the last week.

Tigers skipper Shane Parker is very much back in business after a 12-point maximum in his first home match back from injury and illness was followed by a five-ride full house at Scunthorpe on Monday.

The Tigers have also been boosted by the return of talented youngster Josh Grajczonek which finally enables them to track a full seven-man team for the remainder of the season.

They were actually leading after eight heats when the meeting with the Comets was abandoned because of rain earlier in the month, so Workington can’t take anything for granted – especially after the way they rode themselves on Monday.