GUERNSEY athlete Tom Druce will be faced with the toughest decision of his life this summer. ‘I will have to decide whether to pursue an athletics or teaching career or whatever else in the sports industry,’ said the Bath University student yesterday.

He is reading sports performance and is in his final year, but insists he is fairly flexible.

For now, the 21-year-old has his sights on two big ,eetings on the indoor athletics calendar.

This weekend he participates in the 400m in the Birmingham Games at the National Indoor Arena and next weekend at the National Indoor Championships in Sheffield.

Druce, gold medallist over 800m in Rhodes last year, hopes to get his plans back on track after recent illness.

He suffered a virus four weeks ago, which showed up in a blood test at abnormal levels, then his kidney functions deteriorated.

Because the young Guernseyman was still training during the virus, it led to some skeletal muscle damage.

His kidney functions are returning to normal but the skeletal damage has not fully recovered.

‘I have been told the only way I will get back to full recovery is rest.’

‘I have discussed it with the specialist who understands and he is happy I won’t be putting myself at risk by competing,’ said Druce.

‘There is no point in half resting and I might as well keep training at full capacity.’

He is unsure how strong the competition will be in Birmingham and what time he can run, but he expects to make the final and possibly grab a medal.

But he expects to run more quickly than the 49.17sec. he achieved at the South of England championships.

At the start of this season his aim was to get to the semi-finals of the national indoor championships.

‘Now I’m not too sure what I’m going to be capable of producing. I just hope to get another season’s best and a low 48 would be the aim,’ said Druce.

Depending on how the next fortnight goes he has another couple of races planned.

‘It’s a play-it-by-ear strategy at the moment and I’m still aiming at the summer when hopefully these problems will be behind me.

‘I’m hoping for a personal best and I would expect a minimum sub 48,’ he said.

‘There is the England U-23 championships and it’s time to make an impact and maybe sneak a medal.’

Druce also has his eyes on Keith Falla’s long-standing 600m island record if the opportunity arises.

‘If a race comes up in the summer, I will give it a go, but I will not try it while I’m in ill health. Keith Falla is a bit of a local legend and any record I can take is a bonus for me.’

Last season he was hampered by injury – tearing a hamstring twice.

‘I’m trying to put a positive spin on things,’ he said.

He is currently training in Bath with Guernsey’s Olympic hopeful Dale Garland and Great Britain international Steve Green and several junior internationals.