THE last fortnight has been more of a balancing act for Jessica Ennis, but now Great Britain’s heptathlon hero is focused on using a trip to Gateshead as a platform for European Championships glory.

Ennis was forced to miss the Aviva European Trials two weeks ago through illness and there were concerns her appearance at the European Championships later this month was under threat.

The 24-year-old world heptathlon champion has been training confidently and without problem since a specialist carried out the Epley Manouevre on her.

Epley is used to treat vertigo and, so far, the procedure has helped Ennis back to good health and is due to step up her preparations for the European Championships at tomorrow’s Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead.

“Having a virus has left me in bed for two weeks. It’s changed my plans quite a bit,”

said Ennis, whose inner ear problem left her head spinning and feeling queasy.

“Missing the trials was disappointing because I was planning on doing a couple of events there. I have changed things. I’m better now and I’m ready to compete.

“It came on quite sudden. I went to see an ear, nose and throat specialist who told me to take a side of medication, which could have side-effects of sickness and headaches, or do the Epley Maneouvre and I opted for the Epley.

“He laid me down, moved my head in different directions and he said it ‘could make you feel worse or it could improve it’. I was willing to take the risk.”

Ennis is now intent on recapturing her best form quickly, having successfully outpointed her main rivals in Gotzis in Austria in May, and she views Gateshead as the ideal place to restart.

Fans expecting the Great Britain team captain to be returning to winning ways in Gateshead this weekend, however, will be in for a shock.

With no heptathlon, Ennis will take part in a couple of individual events in a bid to close the gap on her personal bests in the 100m and Javelin.

“I always planned to do this event, it has made it even more important now that I missed the trials,” said Ennis.

“It has interrupted a little. I couldn’t do anything for two weeks. But I have not missed too much. I just wanted to be still and I didn’t want to be spinning.

“I’m looking forward to competing again. As a heptathlete you have to face up to the fact you can’t do the heptathlon all of the time. It’s more about preparation.

“The girls will be throwing the javelin really far and it will be quite embarrassing. I want to get close to my PB. I have my own goals and my long term goals is the Europeans.

“It’s really good for me to pick up tips in the javelin environment.

It does help bring a good performance out of me.

I know I am probably going to come last. I have to put it into perspective.”

At the IAAF Diamond League meeting in New York on June 12, Ennis set a new PB in the long-jump of 6.51metres and hopes to better her Javelin best of 46.47metres.

Ennis is the only British athlete to be ranked No 1 in the world in her area, which brings with it a weight of expectation and she intends to speak with three times world champion heptathlete Carolina Kluft in the not too distant future to see how she dealt with the pressure.

“Everyone feels pressure but it’s more the buzz of being at the top and I enjoy being at the top of my game,” said Ennis, also looking to improve on a PB in the 200m of 23.15sec.

“I want to focus on staying fit and I know I am in good shape and if I concentrate on staying fit it can all come together.

I set myself goals and I do beat myself up if things don’t go to plan.

“It’s more a pressure on myself than anything else. I wouldn’t say I have no fear.

I’m nervous about the Championships and I will think that everyone will be at their best.”

Ennis is set to lead a 72 strong GB team to Barcelona at the end of the month.

■ Tickets for the AVIVA Grand Prix in Gateshead are available by phone on 08000 556056 or online at www.uka.org.uk. Ticket prices: Tier 2, adults £10, concession £8 and in the Family Zone, £10 for adults and £3 for concessions.