Kevin can be Monarchs' diamond at Newcastle

Wolbert, who will dash back from a Speedway World Team Cup engagement in Denmark for the clash, has a liking for the Tyneside raceway and Campbell is banking on the German to sparkle once again.

Campbell is hoping his side can pick up points to avenge for the midweek loss to Sheffield Tigers after last night's match with Somerset Rebels at Armadale was washed out.

"Newcastle have had so many injury problems this season and I think we have got a real chance of winning," said Campbell.

"After Kevin's performance at Sheffield, he will be so full of confidence on a Newcastle track he loves and could even score a maximum."

Yet Campbell confessed that he thought Wolbert was on course for a nightmare showing against the Tigers after finishing a poor third in his opening race.

He said: "I thought it was going to be another shocker from Kevin, but he came in after that opening ride and changed the gearing on his bike and gradually gained in confidence. He told me he would go out and win the heat fifteen top scorers race, and that's exactly what he did, there was no holding him as he charged to the front.

"When Kevin is on a high he is terrific, but it hasn't happened too often this season."

Monarchs have taken a battering at reserve of late but with Kyle Howarth back from injury and riding in tandem with new signing Tim Webster, Campbell feels there is a sense of stability now at the tail-end.

Webster scored a creditable point at Sheffield when he finished ahead of in-form Ashley Birks in heat two and Campbell was impressed by that effort, saying: "If anyone had suggested a week ago that Tim would go to Sheffield and beat Birks, it wouldn't have been thought possible, I was very happy with him, and Kyle, who scored five, was also very good, and has the advantage that he is always amongst things going into the first corner in every race and because of this he is always bound to score points.

"Kyle was in fact disappointed that he didn't score more than five but once again he should be satisfied with what he got from the reserve berth."

Webster was happy enough with his single point against the Tigers but knows he must improve his starting technique. He said: "I wasn't too bad but I was probably a little bit off the pace and that's why I need to get my gating sorted out. Obviously the starts in the National League compared to the Premier League are quite different.

"For instance, in the lower division, two or three riders' tend to hit the first bend together, but it's much harder at senior level."Webster hasn't ridden at Newcastle before but is not daunted at the prospect, although he said: "I've heard stories that the Newcastle circuit can be a bit difficult, but I heard that about Armadale as well and I've managed okay, hopefully I'll be fine tomorrow, I'll just get out there and do my best and we'll see what happens."

The young Englishman has now ridden three meetings since joining Monarchs and reckons he is progressing in the right direction. "It's been good so far. I scored two points in my home debut but last weekend at Leicester Lions was a bit of a struggle and I ended up with zero. Conditions were not great and all of us found it difficult during the early stages of the meeting. The track was slick and they tried to put down dirt, but it didn't bind and this caused a few falls.

"I'm working on my clutches and once my gating is better I'll be a lot happier, it's all still a bit of a learning curve."