Christian Malcolm's indoor season hangs in the balance after he was forced to withdraw from yesterday's world trials in Sheffield through injury.

Malcolm suffered a recurrence of an old groin injury during Saturday's 60 metres heats but competed in both the semi-final and the final.

The Newport sprinter eventually finished a disappointing fifth in Saturday's 60m final with coach Jock Anderson admitting Malcolm was just 'going through the motions.'

But due to the severity of the injury, the World Championship silver medallist decided not to risk further damage and withdrew from the 200m completely.

Malcolm's indoor season now rests on a consultation with a Manchester specialist who will assess the damage caused to the groin.

The Olympic hopeful could be out of action for anything between two and four weeks meaning he will struggle to qualify for next month's World Indoor Champion-ships In Budapest.

As ever the 24-year-old was remaining positive and still remains hopeful that he will make the GB team for Budapest.

"It's an old injury that I've had since before Christmas," said Malcolm who added: "I felt it a little in the first heat and then again when I was warming up for the semis when I had a sharp pain in my groin and just wasn't right for the final.

"So as a precaution I decided to pull out of the 200m and am going to see a specialist in Manchester this week.

"Hopefully I'll only be out for two weeks and if that's the case then I just need to get a race and a decent time and hopefully they'll take me to Budapest.

"It is obviously disappointing as I was looking forward to running 200m on this track in Sheffield.

"But I guess that it is better that this has happened now and not in a few months time just before Athens.

"I'm in good shape and just need to get this sorted."

Malcolm came second in both the 60m heat and semi-final on Saturday with times of 6.71 and 6.70 sec respectively.

But the final was a disaster and despite getting off to a flying start he finished fifth in a time of 6.77.

The race was won by Jason Gardener who romped to victory with a stunning time of 6.49 which was also a AAA's championship record.

The 200m was won Paul Brizzel in a time of 20.98sec. Cardiff's Dominic Papura was sixth.