Athletics: New injury puts McColgan's comeback on hold: Britain's former world 10,000 metres champion makes a late withdrawal from her first race for a year

LIZ McCOLGAN, due to return to international competition in Aberdeen tomorrow after a year's absence with knee trouble, has pulled out of the event with a foot injury.

Bad news for the sponsors of the 5,000 metres road race, BUPA - and not a healthy sign for the prospects of the 29- year-old former world 10,000m champion, who was told by two specialists that she would never run again following knee operations over Christmas.

McColgan shrugged off that verdict - 'when I quit, I will be the person who decides it, not somebody else.' But her latest problem has persuaded her to be cautious.

'After what I've been through, there is no point competing with even the slightest problem.

'The specialist says a scan shows there is nothing there except an area of inflammation due to a bruising of the bone. He told me there was nothing to be concerned about. I just have to let it settle down for a few days.'

McColgan, who returned from training in Florida last week, has been treading water at her local swimming pool since a training run last Monday left her with inflammation in her foot. Naturally, she says she will be back to challenge for the 10,000m at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer.

Her place will be taken by the world 1500m bronze medallist, Sonia O'Sullivan of Ireland. O'Sullivan will do well to match Yvonne Murray, who beat McColgan in the same event last year. Zola Pieterse, fresh from her debut 10,000m victory - in 34:57.1 - at the South African Championships last week, will also figure importantly.

In the men's event, Ismail Kirui, Kenya's world 5,000m champion, will face a domestic field headed by Rob Denmark, the 1993 European Cup champion, Paul Evans, Gary Staines and Steve Tunstall.

In the men's mile Steve Cram, the 33-year-old former world record holder who has lost twice in a week to little- known runners, faces Matthew Yates, who said on Thursday that Cram should either shape up or get out of top athletics.