Until last month no-one would have reckoned last year's Commonwealth gold medallist Nathan Morgan, would have been challenging for an even more prestigious long jump title.

But when the cocky Midlander recently cleared a massive 8.26 metres in Hamburg, he suddenly became a genuine contender for honours at the World Championships.

Very peeved last year when relative unknown Chris Tomlinson was the long jumper to shatter Lynn Davies' 1968 British record by four centimetres when clearing 8.27m in Tallahassee, Florida, Morgan insisted he would regain his British number one status.

A new competitive edge was added to domestic long jumping and when he won the Commonwealth crown against the Teessider in Manchester last July, the Birchfield Harrier's prospects again looked rosy.

Even a winter operation to remove a loose piece of bone from his left ankle, failed to daunt the ambitions of Morgan, who was disappointed at being forced to watch the World Indoor Championships in his home club's city of Birmingham in March.

Recovery and training kept Leicester-born Morgan marking time until re-emerging in last month's Gateshead Super Grand Prix.

There, he flew out for what was to him after his injury a highly important 7.92 metres wind-assisted clearance.

With a personal best of 8.11m he showed the class he has always boasted of possessing a week later.

His outstanding jump in Hamburg moved him into second place ahead of 1964 Olympic champion Lynn Davies by three centimetres, in the All-Time UK rankings.

And the 1996 world junior bronze-medallist is convinced he can come home with a medal at senior level from Paris.

Morgan 25, said: "Once I've got through the qualifying round, I will come away with a medal, because that's what I do best.

"I suppose the odds are against it, but that's when I pull something out of the bag. I am a championship performer.

"If I'd jumped 8.26m at the last World Championships I would have had the silver. So I know I'm in range."

Morgan admits his fingers will be crossed that he stays fit. In a short career, he has already suffered injuries which would have forced seasoned campaigners to retire.

After scoring valuable points for his country in the 1998 European Cup final, Morgan suffered a horrendous injury.

"A disc was bulging out of my back," said Morgan "and the specialist said I would never jump again.

"Even after I got back to competition, I kept on pulling my hamstring as a result. If I hadn't had any injuries I think I would have jumped 8.40 by now.

"But injuries are part of track and field, and you have to accept it. I'm still here and I'm still improving.

"When I jumped my 8.26 I gave away most of the board. I only just got my foot on to it. There's definitely a lot more to come."

With a reputation for rubbing up all his domestic rivals, but particularly Tomlinson, Morgan, said: "They're not as good as me.

"I'm not being big-headed but I don't believe they are. It doesn't matter to me that Chris has the British record, because I believe when I compete against him I am going to win. If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't do it."

Morgan believes there would be no better stage to break the British record than in the World Championships. If he does, a medal could be the reward.