NEW Storm signing Mitchell Davey is set to make his debut against Birmingham this Sunday following a three-year absence from the sport.
The 26-year-old moved to Storm this week and is set to make his comeback to regular racing for the first time since 2013, when he suffered a badly broken leg in a crash at Sheffield.
Queensland-born Davey was ruled out for an extensive period after that injury, before racing at Redcar last September in the Teesside Silver Helmet.
However, his plans to return full-time this season were delayed by the necessity of obtaining a British passport, which now makes him eligible to race at National League level.
With confirmation received that he can also double-up in the Premier League and permission granted from his parent club Edinburgh, the Storm have now completed a deal with Davey and their re-declaration has been approved.
He comes into the Coventry team as a replacement for long-term injury victim Martin Knuckey, who is set to miss the rest of the season with the broken leg he suffered at Mildenhall last month.
Storm boss Laurence Rogers said: “I know it took Mitchell a long time to recover from the leg injury, but he’s been practising regularly and his equipment has always been first-class.
“Once we had permission it was a case of agreeing terms, which took about three minutes, and then Mitchell checking his situation in that he would be eligible to try and get Premier League rides as well.
“Obviously he’ll be looking to score well for us, and if he can do that he will also be putting himself in the shop window for the Premier League.
“It’s a great relief for us to have him in, as the last few weeks have shown that rider-replacement for a heat-leader really doesn’t work for us.”
