FORMER Rockets star Steve Boxall has been axed by Newcastle just days before the Diamonds' visit to Rye House.Newcastle announced on Tuesday the departure of Boxall from their side following poor early season form.

FORMER Rockets star Steve Boxall has been axed by Newcastle just days before the Diamonds' visit to Rye House.

Newcastle announced on Tuesday the departure of Boxall from their side following poor early season form.

Nineteen-year-old Dane Rene Bach joins as his replacement in time for the Diamonds' away match at Somerset on Friday and the clash against the Silver Ski Rockets at Hoddesdon the following night. Bach joins Newcastle as a full asset on an assessed 7.00 average.

He made his British debut for Peterborough at the tail end of last season, also appearing in several early season fixtures this term, including two in the Elite League.

Boxall won the Premier League championship with Rye House in 2005 and 2007.

The Boxmeister has been sidelined for the last few weeks with a hand injury sustained in an off-track incident.

The Diamonds have so far endured a 2009 not dissimilar to that of their football compatriots at St James' Park.

Newcastle finished bottom of their Premier Trophy group and also exited the Knock-Out Cup at the first hurdle via a hefty 34-point aggregate defeat against Scunthorpe.

Their Premier League programme has begun a little more positively, with home victories to date against Birmingham (48-45) and Somerset (55-37) balancing out respectable away defeats at Stoke (51-38) and Edinburgh (53-40).

However, Rockets captain Chris Neath isn't expecting an easy ride.

He said: “We never take anything for granted - every race is different.”

“A couple of their boys are starting to pick up now, so it could be a tough meeting.

“We'll be confident, but we also won't relax until after heat 15.”

Key backing for the Diamonds could well come from Kenni Larson and 2008 Premier League Riders and 2009 British finalist Jason King.

Larson is through to the same World U21 semi-final round as Rye House's Robert Mear after finishing third in the Scandinavian qualifier at Elgane.

Also in the mix are former Stoke Potter and Glasgow Tiger Trent Leverington and Derek Sneddon, who captained Edinburgh to the Premier League title last season, plus recent signing Adam McKinna and Craig Branney.

The action starts at 7pm.