Ipswich Tru7 Group Witches welcome reserve star Kevin Juhl Pedersen back for the Premiership Knockout Cup Final opener with Leicester at Foxhall on Monday evening.

The Dane has declared himself fit for Witches’ biggest night of the season so far after missing the past two meetings due to bruising on his lungs, suffered in a crash at Glasgow on July 11.

The damage left him unable to fly, forcing him to get a boat over to Amsterdam, before completing the rest of his journey back to Denmark by road. He has made the same trip in reverse to make it back to Foxhall.

Ipswich team manager Paul Hurry hailed his determination to be part of Witches’ KO Cup Final showdown.

He said: “I spoke to him on Wednesday, and I asked him, ‘What’s the state of play?’ He said, ‘I am coming back at the weekend, I’m getting a ferry back, so I am going to be ready.’

“He had a trek to get home. I think he got a boat to Amsterdam, and his dad picked him up. He couldn’t fly, and I think that’s why he can’t fly back to the UK. He’s getting a boat back. You can’t knock his effort – he’s dead keen. Hopefully he will come over and feel good.

“He said he is really enjoying it with the Witches, and he has settled in well. All credit to him – he has had one meeting at home so far, and he did okay in that. He got better as the night went on.

“He’s definitely a rider for the future and one who can score a few points for us on Monday.”

Get behind the Witches as they bid to build up a big aggregate advantage at the Premiership Knockout Cup Final, first leg at Foxhall on Monday. Tickets are available online HERE now.

STARTING LINE-UPS

IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES: 1. Tom Brennan, 2. Danny King (captain), 3. Richard Lawson, 4. Scott Nicholls, 5. Tobiasz Musielak, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen, 7. Jason Edwards.

LEICESTER LIONS: 1. Ryan Douglas, 2. Dan Thompson, 3. Nick Morris, 4. Kyle Howarth, 5. Sam Masters (captain), 6. Drew Kemp, 7. Joe Thompson.