PREVIEW: BELLE VUE v SHEFFIELD (LC)

BELLE Vue will hand a debut to German youngster Norick Blodorn in tonight’s (Monday) League Cup clash with Sheffield at the NSS.

Blodorn had been unable to appear in the Aces’ individual opener last week due to visa issues, but he now lines up at reserve alongside in-form Tom Brennan.

Said Blodorn: “I’m so relieved that all of that is finally done! It was quite a nerve wracking few weeks while everything was going through, so I’m really pleased that it’s finally been approved.

“This will be my first meeting of the season. It’s been a few months since I last rode at Belle Vue, and I was gutted to have to miss the Peter Craven Memorial.

“I’m not very familiar with the Sheffield team but to be honest, that might be a good thing. My goal is to make a good first impression and I can’t wait to race my first heat with the Aces.”

The Tigers have Tobiasz Musielak and former Belle Vue man Craig Cook in their side for the first time as they visit the venue where they were eliminated from last year’s play-off semi-finals.

Skipper Kyle Howarth said: “It’s time for the talking to stop, this is the serious stuff now and it doesn’t get any bigger than Belle Vue for us.

“There’s always that rivalry between the two clubs and we’re looking forward to going across there.

“We look a good side and we’re all feeling pretty good. It would be the perfect start for us if we could go there and win on that brilliant track, but Belle Vue will be equally determined.”

BELLE VUE: Max Fricke, Jye Etheridge, Jake Allen, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Norick Blodorn, Tom Brennan.

SHEFFIELD: Jack Holder, Craig Cook, Tobiasz Musielak, Kyle Howarth, Adam Ellis, Stefan Nielsen, Connor Mountain.