International grasstracker Charley Powell is the missing piece in Eastbourne Eagles’ jigsaw for 2016.

The Arlington outfit have confirmed the 23-year-old speedway rookie in the No.7 berth for the coming National League season on an initial three-point average.

Eagles’ total team average comes in at 39.75 points. The limit is 40.

Club director Connor Dugard, who takes a lead role in team-building, believes Eastbourne have a racer on their hands.

He said: “Charley has been riding grasstrack for three years and he is already riding internationally. He wants to learn and he listens.

“Charley is fast and has shown on many occasions he is not afraid of going fast and that’s what makes the difference in finding the right three-pointers.

“You can’t teach bravery but you can teach someone technique and that’s what we plan to do.”

Powell made his speedway debut in the early-season Championship of Sussex at Arlington last year and has next to no experience on the shale.

This will be his first season as a regular in a league team but, in one guest outing last year for Birmingham, he scored nine points on his first visit to the track.