POOLE Pirates ace Chris Holder has vowed to use his shock slip down the Elite League order to rebuild confidence shattered by a two-year injury nightmare.

The 2012 world champion returned to Wimborne Road as number one this season but a mixed start saw his average drop to 7.00 ahead of May’s action.

Matters were exacerbated by Aussie compatriot Dakota North’s flying start with the Grand Prix star inexplicably pushed out of a heat-leader’s role.

Holder revealed the spectre of last season’s neck fracture had preyed on his mind more than the horrific catalogue of injuries that had left him in a wheelchair back in 2013.

But with a whopping 37 points from three meetings since dropping to a second-string berth, the crowd favourite insists he can “ride out” his troubles and reclaim top billing at Pirates.

Holder told the Daily Echo: “When I came back after 2013 it wasn’t so bad but then I broke my arm again and broke my neck, so it was tough to get over.

“I had another two operations in the winter and that takes its toll on you too. The rehab and everything else can wear you down and when you get back on a bike, it takes time to get back in the right place.

“You don’t take so many risks I suppose, because you know the outcome if it goes wrong. The past two years have just caught up with me I guess.

“If I had the answer, I would put it right. Last year’s injuries get to me a lot more now than they did at the time and I am just trying to ride my way through it the best way I can.”

And although Holder admitted his new-found slot had taken him by surprise, he reckons it could end up being a blessing in disguise for the team.

“I’m slowly but surely getting back to where I want to be and racking up big scores helps a lot,” he added.

“The key is meetings, the more the better to get a bit of confidence up, that’s the biggest thing for me at the moment.

“Even though I haven’t been going all that well in England, it seems kind of strange to be where I am. But, it is working for the team because the other boys are going well in the hard positions.

“Dak (North) has been great, Davey (Watt) has not had too many meetings and Maciej (Janowski) is just Maciej – he’s always on fire.

“It has been tough getting used to the swing of the tougher tracks again. There are more physical demands over here and getting new equipment firing takes time.

“But the best guys always end up at the top so I just have to get my head down, go for it and try to get back there.”