TEAM Great Britain boss Alun Rossiter won’t hesitate using Craig Cook at next week’s Speedway of Nations qualifier in Manchester, despite the Cumbrian competing at Championship level only so far this season.

Rossiter – also Swindon Robins boss – also named Tai Woffinden, Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Chris Harris in his five-man world championship squad earlier this week, ahead of the competition’s opening event in Landshut, Germany, on Saturday.

Great Britain will compete alongside Australia, Finland, Latvia, Denmark, France and USA in Event Two of this year’s Speedway of Nations.

The two nations that accumulate the most points from their six qualifying heats will advance directly through to the competition’s final in Togliatti, Russia, in July.

The nation that finishes third will then contest a run-off against the winner of heat 22 – a one-heat shootout between teams that finish fourth and fifth in the qualifying process.

Great Britain finished second to Russia in the event’s inaugural staging last season, with Rossiter handing Cook just two rides despite having 18 heats penned in his programme.

The form of British youngster Lambert ultimately denied Cook the chance to make his mark in GB colours last season. But Rossiter insists the door is not completely shut on the Glasgow racer.

Rossiter said: “We’ll see on the day, but Robert (Lambert) is riding well at the moment and Craig (Cook) is going well too.

“I know people will point out that he isn’t racing in the Premiership at the moment, but not a lot of riders have done a great deal of racing.

“And the meeting’s that Craig has raced in, he has cleaned up. I have no issues with Craig at all.

“We always get good crowds for our home qualifier – it was the same at King’s Lynn.

“And it will be no different in Manchester. I’m looking forward to seeing a packed stadium full of people supporting the Brits – let’s see if we can get to Russia.”

Increased demand for tickets to the event has resulted in event organisers BSI opening an additional standing area at the National Speedway Stadium.

Build-up to the meeting has excited Rossiter, who admits GB’s new management set-up – under the guidance of VRX Motorsport – has fuelled interest in the national team’s championship winning credentials.

“I’m looking forward to Manchester, there will be a lot riding on it and the meeting will be tough,” said Rossiter.

“We don’t want to be battling in that last-race decider.

“We’ve got to make sure we finish in the top two.

“The new set-up is working well, we’ve made massive leaps forward – we’re in line with the 21st century modern-day team now.

“It’s the same as what any other professional team in other sports have done.

“The Poles, Danes and Swedes have all been doing it, and we’ve finally come into the millennium.”