NEWPORT sprinter Christian Malcolm (pictured) has admitted that he is desperate to make up for lost time at this year's World Championships.

But first the 200m star must make the Great Britain team for Helsinki and despite running his fastest time for four year's (20.15secs) at last weekend's European Cup in Florence the 26-year-old is refusing to get carried away with his early season form.

He said: "I wasn't surprised with the time, I've been training well and started the season strongly and felt like I could run a fast time.

"I did a lot of strength work with Linford Christie in the winter and went on a lot of long runs and that has paid off for me.

"My first race over 200m was 20.70secs and that was into a head wind so all the signs are there.

"I'm desperate to make the World Championships and do myself justice. "When you go through what I have been through over the past year (Malcolm suffered kidney failure before last year's Athens Olympics) it makes you appreciate how lucky you are and I've worked hard to get back to my best and it helped me re-focus on my athletics.

"I've moved on from the Olympics and I want to do myself justice but I won't put pressure on myself by predicting times or medals as I've learnt not to do that.

"I just have to take it one race at a time and my next big race that I have to focus on is the AAA Championships in Manchester."

If Malcolm comes in the top two in Manchester then he will be part of the GB team that travels to Helsinki for this year's World Championships. But trying to stop him will be the usual suspects of training partner Darren Campbell, Chris Lambert and Marlon Devonish.

He said: "The trials are my next big focus.

"I know from that European Cup that I am running well but I have to do it on the day.

"I can still sharpen up but if I get there fit then I'm always going to be confident."