Double blow for Elite League outfit

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers face a reshuffle of their rider line-up after Ashley Birks suffered a crash last night.

Reserve rider Birks was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocaetd shoulder and broken collarbone after a crash when riding for Premier League club Sheffield at Glasgow.

Birks tweeted: “Shoulder got put back in last night, going back to Sheffield hospital now for more scans, thanks for the messages!”

And that comes at the same time of news confirming Steve Boxall is set to miss the rest of the season as he needs surgery on a shoulder injury of his own.

Swedish ace Kim Nilsson also suffered a spill and shoulder injury in his home country, which appears to be muscle related.

Hammers reported that Nilsson was hoping to have an x-ray today and hopes to be back on his bike as soon as possible.