PLYMOUTH Devils' skipper Ben Barker is in a race against time to be fit for the new season.

Barker, one of the United Kingdom's outstanding young riders, is still suffering from an injury that almost ended his 2011 campaign.

Doctors have confirmed that the city side's number one rider is suffering from an infection in a leg he badly injured last season.

Barker aggravated an old leg injury last season while on duty for the Devils.

His leg was being supported by a metal rod, which came adrift and threatened to tear through the outer skin of his leg.

Barker looked certain to miss the rest of the season after injuring the leg against Sheffield Tigers on September 30.

But a few days after an operation to repair the damage, Barker led his team to victory over Newcastle Eagles.

And he was an ever-present as Devils went on a nine-meeting winning streak at home, lifting themselves off the bottom of the Premier League.

However, Barker said he had been forced to return to hospital with an infection in his leg wound.

He said: "I went into hospital on December 20 and got out again on December 30 and I've still got the stitches in.

"The staff at the hospital were telling me that I was really in a bad way.

"I didn't know anything about it, until suddenly I was in agony.

"They've given me a month's worth of antibiotics and hopefully that will make an improvement.

"I am hoping I will be all right for the start of the season. I have been keeping positive, but I just want to hurry up and get the leg right, then I can start working on everything for the new season.

"I want to get my fitness back and I reckon my leg is at about 50 to 60 per cent at the moment.

"The Press and practice day is in March (just before the start of the season) and I'll be there OK, although I don't know if I'll be on a bike."

Devils ended up second-bottom in their first season in the Premier League, UK speedway's second tier.

Barker was cautious about making predictions they would be able to improve much on that, this season.

He said it could depend on how recently-signed riders performed for the team.

Barker said: "It's a tough one, trying to predict what we'll do this year – there's a lot of good riders (in other teams) around.

"I don't know if we're as strong as we could be, and it's hard to say whether we're stronger than last season."

The Devils' number one, who appeared for Great Britain in World Cup teams in 2011, added: "Next season, I've got big targets for both myself and the team."