PREVIEW: IPSWICH v BIRMINGHAM (PREM KO CUP S/F)

WORLD No.2 Fredrik Lindgren makes his return to British Speedway tonight (Thursday) as his new club Birmingham visit Ipswich in the Premiership KO Cup.

Lindgren, who last rode regularly in the UK in 2017 before ending an extensive spell with Wolverhampton, comes into a Brummies side who are two points adrift in the semi-final tie.

Said Lindgren: “I’m really looking forward to it. It is going to be a big challenge for me because the Premiership has grown stronger and stronger the last couple of years.

“Right now I would say it is a very, very tough league to race in with a lot of top names and that’s all exciting.

“It was good to meet everyone on Monday and hopefully I can fit into the team pretty easily and I hope we can have a good time together.”

The injury-hit Witches took a notable 46-44 win at Perry Barr on Monday and once again call on guest replacements with Chris Harris and Sam Masters stepping in, although there is some good news with Adam Ellis back for the Cup holders.

Birmingham continue to operate rider replacement for Steve Worrall who is still out with illness.

Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Despite our injury problems I feel we still have a strong side out on Thursday.

“We have a couple of guests in that we know can do a really good job at Foxhall and with rider replacement for Dan (Thompson) and the form Keynan (Rew) has been showing as well as Jordan’s (Jenkins) form picking up, we hope we can cover those rides well.

“We have a two-point lead, but they will be coming here to overturn that, and we know how quickly things can change and fall apart in speedway. We have to be focused and make sure we get the win.”

IPSWICH: Chris Harris, Dan Thompson R/R, Sam Masters, Adam Ellis, Emil Sayfutdinov, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins, Freddy Hodder (no.8).
BIRMINGHAM: Freddie Lindgren, Steve Worrall R/R, Wiktor Lampart, Justin Sedgmen, Tom Brennan, Piotr Pawlicki, Leon Flint.

SCB Referee: Gary Allen