DALE GARLAND flew back from Belgrade yesterday facing an MRI scan this morning to determine the extent of a worrying injury in his upper groin. Garland, part of a small England representative squad, clocked a useful season’s best 47.04sec. in finishing fourth of seven in a flat 400m at the inaugural Belgrade International which was shown on Eurosport television. The time is just outside his island record – 46.76 – and he had hoped to go quicker.

‘A Jamaican won in 46.4. It [the run] was alright, but it was raining and not very nice.’

Garland had been in two minds about competing after aggravating the injury in setting the fastest 400m hurdles time in the UK this year, in Manchester last weekend.

He was aware he had scar tissue on an adductor injury, but of more concern is the soreness high in his upper groin around his bladder.

‘Training-wise it’s a bit of a nightmare. I haven’t been able to run two days in a row for two weeks now.’

‘It is hurting quite a bit now,’ said Garland, who had been hoping to race again this weekend and in Brataslava next week.