Ashley Morris can’t wait to get the chance to show Ipswich fans what he can do.

The 21-year-old from Stafford has been drafted into the ‘Sackers’ Witches line-up to replace Ritchie Hawkins and will make his debut for the Suffolk side on Thursday– against the side who bombed him out – Plymouth Devils.

It could hardly be more ironic – and something that Morris acknowledges.

“Yes, that’s good isn’t it?,” he said.

“But you have to start somewhere and I’m starting with Ipswich against Plymouth.

“I’m excited about the challenge. Since Plymouth dropped me, I’ve been waiting for a call from someone.

“And when Chris Louis called to tell me the situation at Ipswich, I jumped at the chance, to be honest.

“My last meeting for Plymouth was actually at Foxhall,” (where he got eight points – he got a paid 10 guesting for Berwick at Foxhall in the knock-out cup).

“I felt I was coming into a bit of form but then I was dropped,” he added.

Morris rides for King’s Lynn in the Elite League as a fast-track reserve and can’t wait for Thursday week.

“It’s a new challenge, new team-mates and new people to meet.

“I’ve ridden ok at Foxhall before, now I want more consistency in my racing.”

Meanwhile, Witches team boss Phil Hilton has welcomed Morris’ inclusion.

“I’ve seen Ashley ride at Mildenhall in the National League and he’s riding for King’s Lynn in the Elite League,” he said.

“He’s a young English rider learning his trade. It will be good to have a fresh face in the team and I hope he does well.”

Answering criticism from some quarters about his role as team manager and not getting on with outgoing captain Hawkins, Hilton had this to say.

“I like Ritchie and there has never been any personal issues between us,” he said.

“But my job as team manager is to help the team win meetings. I gave Ritchie all the rides I could to get him back to fitness after his early season crash.

“I have nothing but respect for Ritchie, who has been and still is a fine rider, and there is nothing I wanted more than for him to get himself back racing well again – but it wasn’t happening for him.”

Hilton and the Witches are boosted with the news Cameron Heeps is likely to be back in the team for the next home meeting against Plymouth on July 2.

Heeps had a spin at Sheffield on Thursday night and came through unscathed.

“It went well,” the amiable Aussie said.

“In fact it went very well. I should be back on Thursday.”

Twitter: @Mike_Bacon