Jon Cook today praised the bravest attempt to return from serious injury he has ever seen in speedway.

But the Eastbourne Eagles promoter insists heat leader Adam Shields must not rush to take the final step back to Elite League action.

Shields attempted to return for Eagles in Saturdays defeat by Reading, just 40 days after suffering serious pelvis and hip injuries which threatened to end his season.

The Aussie decided not to race after struggling to get through a practice session in the afternoon.

He is booked for the individual Welsh Open at Newport on Sunday and is still hoping to race for Eagles when Swindon and the Sky Sports cameras visit Arlington on Monday.

Cook said: Adam has shown exceptional determination to the point where he is even riding a bike two weeks after he was able to walk again.

That is extraordinary and I dont wish to decry him in any way because Ive never seen anything like it in my life.

You can only applaud him at the highest level but the fact of the matter is we cannot expect riders who are not fit to come in and do a job for us.

We will have to take it one week at a time for Adam.

If he is able to practise in a competitive nature and be confident and aggressive in the way he usually he is, he will be riding here on Monday.

But the likelihood is he will be here the week after.

What we do know is he will be back sooner rather than later.

That is something that is a definite positive for the club and the team.

On Saturday we only got five points from Adams rides.

We cant keep going back to Nicki Pedersen week after week.

There will come a night when he cant deliver and that came on Saturday.

Shields, who stayed at Arlington after his practice, said: Its frustrating being here watching a meeting.

I had a couple of little runs around the track but they didnt go quite right.

I havent got full flexibility in the hip yet.

I looked at the X-ray on Friday night and there was still a crack there.

Youve no business being out on the track unless you are in full control.

I want to wait maybe another week and come back when Im right.