‘I WANT to be back at Ipswich’. So says disappointed Ipswich Witches teenage star Taylor Poole after his hopes of returning to the Suffolk side this season were dealt a major blow.

‘I WANT to be back at Ipswich’.

So says disappointed Ipswich Witches teenage star Taylor Poole after his hopes of returning to the Suffolk side this season were dealt a major blow.

The ‘Sackers’ Witches have re-declared their team for tomorrow’s Premier League encounter with Rye House Rockets at Foxhall Stadium, with the returning Morten Risager back in the 1-7 – and Poole frozen out.

Both riders crashed out of the opening night meeting of the season in March – ironically against Rye House – Risager with a back injury and Poole with a broken arm. But it’s Risager who has won the battle for fitness, returning to the starting line-up.

“I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” Poole said.

“I was sort of expecting it, but it’s not nice. I love Ipswich and I want to be back at Ipswich whether this season or next.

“But I’m still a few weeks away from being fully fit and Morten is ready now. That’s just the way it is.”

Director of speedway at Foxhall Chris Louis admitted it was a tough decision to re-declare the side without the popular Poole.

“I was gutted for both boys at the start of the season because I know how much hard work they had put into pre-season. I think most people thought Taylor would be back sooner than Morten, but that’s not been the case and Taylor is still six weeks or so away.

“All Taylor can do now is to get fit and in six weeks see where we stand. If someone is not performing then Taylor may fit back into the side. But in some ways I don’t want that because it will mean there has been an injury to someone or someone hasn’t been performing.”

Risager rides at No.4 tomorrow night, with Rohan Tungate moving into the team at No.2. Frenchman Mat Tresarrieu moves to reserve.

n What do you think of the Witches changes? Can they have a successful season? Let us know starsport@archant.co.uk