NEIL Middleditch believes it is time for Britain's young guns to "step up to the plate" after leaving three old stagers out of his Great Britain squad for the Speedway World Cup.

Team GB boss Middlo, who is also Poole's team manager, has ditched Chris Louis, David Norris and Dean Barker.

Instead he has drafted in youngsters Edward Kennett, the Castle Cover Pirates rider, Lewis Bridger (Eastbourne), Richard Hall (Peterborough), Daniel King (Peterborough) and Oliver Allen (Coventry) into his 11-man squad.

With Mark Loram injured, Middleditch is bound to rely on the experienced trio of captain Scott Nicholls, Lee Richardson and Chris Harris to fill the first three places on his team-sheet for the competition next month.

Simon Stead, David Howe, Kennett and Joe Screen will probably battle it out for the remaining two places in the five-man team for Team GB's opener against Sweden, the United States and Russia at Coventry on Monday, July 16.

But the call ups for Bridger, Hall, King and Allen are obviously to let them know they are part of the Team GB picture from now on.

Then, if more injuries play a role between now and the tournament, one or more of them could be asked to step up to fill the breach this year.

Middleditch said: "Chris, David and Dean have all suffered from injuries and things and I have had to leave them out.

"The old guard have served me fantastically over the years and I'm grateful to all of them for doing what they have done riding for Great Britain while I have been team manager.

"But they have all done their stuff and it is now time for the youngsters to step up to the plate.

"They are the future of British speedway, the likes of Lewis, Richard, Oliver and Daniel."

Middleditch, who led Team GB to third place in the final last year behind champions Denmark and Sweden, added: "This year I can name six riders to go into the tournament before I have to whittle it down to five for each meeting.

"I can also name a stand-by reserve who can ride up to a maximum of six races during a meeting.

"He can only replace one rider in the team, whether it is for injury or loss of form.

"It is a good rule to bring in because we lost the use of Paul Hurry through injury when he crashed badly at Wroclaw in one of the first Speedway World Cups.

"It meant some heats during the rest of the meeting didn't have any British rider and that wasn't really fair on us, so it makes sense to introduce this new rule.

"I will pick riders who are on form at the time and the number six will be part of that team. Whoever is number six, it will be a great experience for them."

Russia beat the Czech Republic, Italy and Hungary at Lonigo, Italy, on Sunday to qualify for the main competition.

Great Britain squad: S Nicholls, C Harris, L Richardson, D Howe, E Kennett, J Screen, S Stead, O Allen, A Hall, L Bridger, D King.