CHRISTIAN Malcolm has explained how new coach Linford Christie has given him a new lease of life and a renewed hunger to finally deliver on the world stage.

Malcolm goes into this weekend's Norwich Union European trials approaching the type of form which had led many to tip him as a Commonwealth Games medallist.

A hamstring injury robbed Malcolm of his chance to compete in Melbourne but now nearly four months after his heartbreak, he has a new coach and a fresh outlook on career.

He said: "I was down when I came back from Australia. I honestly thought I could go there and deliver.

"And it took me a few weeks to get over that but the European Cup came around so quickly that I just had to concentrate on getting fit for that.

"It has been tough, I couldn't do any speed work for about eight weeks, so everything has been rushed, but I've worked hard and Linford has pushed me.

"He's given me a new lease of life and has made me mentally stronger.

"He hasn't changed many things but it just makes a difference when it comes from a a different voice.

"I'm spending three or four days a week in London and the travelling is hard but there is no point moaning about it.

"I just have to put my head down and get the job done.

"When you work with someone like Linford who has actually been there and done it and who is someone you look up to and inspired you when you were younger then it does make a difference and it is working really well."

Malcolm goes in the 100m and 200m this weekend in Manchester.

He has raced only a handful of times this season but has looked impressive, especially in last month's European Cup in Malaga, Spain.

The 27-year-old Newport sprinter won the 200m in a time of 20.29secs and showed signs of getting back to his best.

He will be favourite to take the 200m title on Sunday and therefore be selected to represent Great Britain in the European Championships next month in Gothenberg.

But he says it is the 100m that he is most excited about competing in at the weekend.

He said: "That will be so close, all the British sprinters have been getting some stick recently but we are all determined to perform at the highest level.

"It is really difficult to say who will win the 100m. My priority is just to qualify for the team as it provides useful speed practice for me but anyone from, Mark Lewis-Francis, Jason Gardner, Darren Campbell, Tim Abeyie, Marlon Devonish, myself or Dwain Chambers could win that."

And what of Dwain Chambers' return to action after his two year drugs ban?

Malcolm said: "He's done his time and it is great that he's come back in this shape and is running well."

- Tim Benjamin, who ended last summer as Europe's No.1 over 400m, battled through an Atlantic gale to prove he is in shape to race at the Norwich Union European trials this weekend.

The 24-year-old Welshman clocked 46.38 seconds for second place in the 400m race at an international meeting on the island of Tenerife.

He was pipped for victory by Jamel Ashley (USA), who finished a mere two-hundredths of a second ahead.

The time pales beside the 44.56 that took him to the top of the European rankings last summer but was a giant step forwards for Benjamin, who was forced to miss this year's Commonwealth Games because of a persistent injury. And there are mitigating circumstances.

The meeting was affected so badly by gales that the official wind speed for the men's 100m was +4.9 metres per second.

Reverse that on the back straight and you get some idea of the brickwall-like conditions Benjamin ran through.

His manager, Ricky Simms, said: "Tim said he was delighted with his showing and nothing should be read into the time as clearly, given the conditions, he could run probably well over a second faster.

"It was just the result he was looking for before going to the trials in Manchester next weekend.

"Tim is confident he can claim a place in the British side and is determined to prove to everyone he will be an asset for Gothenburg."

Fellow Welshman Rhys Williams is also expected to compete at the weekend in the 400m hurdles.