SCUNTHORPE reserve Nathan Ablitt (pictured) is facing a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The Scorpions’ No. 6 sustained a cracked bone in his ankle when he crashed with Plymouth’s Joe Thompson during last Friday’s Knockout Cup meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway. The Lincolnshire club have moved to sign Jack Smith to replace Ablitt in the joint Scunthorpe/Sheffield National Development League team and Smith will also deputise for Ablitt as a guest in Scunthorpe’s Championship side. Club owner Rob Godfrey said: “Although Nathan has competed for Scorpions this season, he hasn’t ridden for the National League team we are running alongside Sheffield because we haven’t run a meeting, and therefore a facility wasn’t available for Nathan at that level. “So we’ve signed Jack for that side, until Nathan is fit, and that also enables Jack to guest for Scorpions. “It makes sense for both parties. Jack is a rider who can score and win races at Championship level, and he’s a top rider in the National League, while he has the perfect opportunity to put his name in the shop window by showing what he can do.”