BIRMINGHAM and Ipswich have been hit by an injury and illness crisis ahead of tonight’s KO Cup semi-final at Perry Barr.
Host Birmingham had expected to hand a debut to Freddie Lindgren in tonight’s fixture but the Swede has been unable to secure a temporary visa so he remains on the sidelines while his visa application is processed.
Steve Worrall has also been diagnosed with labyrinthitis and rider replacement will cover for his absence.
Jason Doyle ruled himself out for the rest of the season at the weekend following injuries sustained at King’s Lynn adding to an Ipswich injury list which also includes Danny King and Adam Ellis.
Holders Ipswich have called in Belle Vue’s Norick Blodorn and Oxford Cheetah Scott Nicholls who scored 17 points guesting for the Witches against Leicester last week.
They will operate rider replacement at number one for Doyle, Emil Sayfutdinov taking over the number five berth.
Dan Thompson has also been ruled out with Covid and Jason Freddy Hodder steps in.
Birmingham CEO Nigel Tolley said: We were expecting Freddie to be granted an ‘invitational visa’ which would have covered us for the next month while a long term solution was worked on.
“For reasons we are not allowed to go into at this moment this has been refused and we must now wait for his ‘international sports persons visa’ to be granted.
“Unfortunately we cannot say exactly when this will be.”
Witches boss Ritchie Hawkins admitted that Doyle’s announcement had come as a big blow.
“All of us are gutted, not just for us but for him personally. He has started the season flying and was really looking set to attack the Grand Prix and fight for another world title.
“He was in superb form all over the world and it is a huge loss for us but I’m sure he will stay around the team and the club because his influence and presence will still contribute and be a bonus for the team.
“Suitable number ones are hard to come by and we have spoken to a few but unfortunately none of them are available so we will be running R/R which means the rest of the team need to step up.
“We struggled last Monday but this is a cup semi-final and we want to retain that trophy.”
Birmingham: Tom Brennan, Wiktor Lampart, Zach Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Steve Worrall R/R, Piotr Pawlicki, Leon Flint.
Ipswich: Jason Doyle R/R, Freddy Hodder, Scott Nicholls, Norick Blödorn, Emil Sayfutdinov, Keynan Rew, Jordan Jenkins.
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Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.