ALEX Strutt steps back into the ring on Friday night for his first competitive bout since April.

The Ombersley boxer faces London-based Pole Pawel Trebinski at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham in a four-round contest.

The 26-year-old super-middleweight, trained by former WBC 168lb king Richie Woodhall, is expecting a tough clash with the Pole, who is coached by Clinton McKenzie, brother of ex-three weight world champion Duke.

While he has lost three of his four bouts, Trebinski campaigns at light-heavyweight.

“I may be quite heavy-handed when I fight but going in against someone who is naturally bigger than you is going to be tough,” Strutt said.

“He may have lost three of his four fights but I need to be careful that his record doesn’t become two wins out of five.”

Strutt has had to do without his main trainer over the past week due to Woodhall’s media commitments that saw him ringside at Joe Calzaghe’s stunning win over Roy Jones Jnr at Madison Square Garden.

But with the former world champion stateside, Strutt has had help from the man that guided his trainer to the top — Woodhall’s father Len.

“When Richie’s not there, Len takes the reins so there is little difference,” Strutt said.

The clash with Trebinski is a step into the unknown for a boxer who has won his opening two bouts. Strutt said: “I haven’t seen any tapes of Pawel. With him down in London, he could have some very good sparring partners.”

Strutt’s last outing was an exhibition fight with stable-mate Dean Mitchell after a last-minute withdrawal back in May.

“That may have only been an exhibition but it was a war,” he added. “I’m raring to go now. It’ll be interesting for me to see how much I have improved since then.”