LINUS Eklof is the final piece in Peterborough's 2010 jig-saw.The 20-year-old Swedish starlet has agreed to join the Readypower Panthers as official number eight.

LINUS Eklof is the final piece in Peterborough's 2010 jig-saw.

The 20-year-old Swedish starlet has agreed to join the Readypower Panthers as official number eight.

Eklof is preparing for his first full season in Britain having made his debut for King's Lynn in mid-May last year.

He helped the Stars win the treble - the Premier League title, the Knock Out Cup and the Premier Trophy - and is now ready to test himself in the top-flight.

He agreed terms over the weekend and will make his first appearance at the East of England Showground in the pre-season Press and Practice Day on Monday, March 8.

But it won't be his first Alwalton visit as he revealed: “I went a few times last year - just to watch and it looks like a terrific race-track.”

Eklof is one of Sweden's most highly-rated youngsters and broke into their Under 21 World Cup squad last season, winning a bronze medal in the Final.

He was the 2008 Nordic Under 21 Champion, finishing in front of Elite League regulars Morten Risager, Simon Gustafsson and Nicolai Klindt in the final at Pori, Finland.

The same season he finished eighth in the European Under 19 Final and top-scored for gold medallists Sweden in the Under 19 European Team Championship.

He almost retained the Nordic title last year but had to settle for the silver medal, losing out to Thomas H. Jonasson at Elgane, Norway.

He missed out on his first World Under 21 Final in a semi final run-off in Miskolc, Hungary, when he was beaten by Poland's Michal Mitko.

He was fifth in the Swedish Under 21 Championship after winning his first three races to qualify for the semi final where he was beaten by Eastbourne's Gustafsson for the last spot in the Final.

In Britain, he scored an impressive 273 points for the Stars, including a maximum in the Knock Out Cup against Scunthorpe.

In all he reached double figures in seven of his 38 official matches.

Peterborough team boss Trevor Swales and new Director of Speedway Peter Oakes were regular visitors to the Norfolk Arena last season and were impressed by the young Swede's performances.

He ended the summer in a blaze of glory, averaging over eight points a match in ten Premier Trophy and Knock Out Cup meetings, including 14 paid 19, from seven rides in the Trophy Final against Edinburgh!

Swales said: “Linus was someone we have always had on our list of potential number eights and he jumped at the chance of joining us.

“Once King's Lynn owner Keith Chapman had given his permission to talk with him everything was tied up in a couple of telephone calls.”

Eklof will continue to ride regularly for the Norfolk outfit but will be available to replace either of the Panthers' double-up riders when the Stars don't have a fixture.