CHRIS Tomlinson is hoping that two leaps will be enough to earn a European Indoor Athletics Championship gold this weekend, because the Middlesbrough-born long jumper is not certain his groin will hold up to anything more than that.

Tomlinson has spent the last fortnight combining the European indoor season with intensive physiotherapy sessions in Sheffield.

His groin problem is not serious enough to prevent him competing in Madrid this weekend but, with a qualifying round and a possible final to negotiate, the 24-year-old is desperate to avoid putting too much strain on his body at such an early stage of the season.

August's outdoor World Championships remain his priority and, while the English No 1 is desperate to do well in Spain, he is equally determined not to inflict any damage that could hinder him for the rest of the campaign.

"It's been touch and go for a while," said Tomlinson. "But the medical team have advised me to go but be careful.

"I'll see how it goes. As long as I don't push things excessively, I've been told I can't make anything worse.

"In an ideal world, I'd take two jumps and come away with a medal, but athletics doesn't work like that. The preparation hasn't been ideal, but I'm confident I can give a good account of myself - I wouldn't be going if I wasn't."

The problem has meant that Tomlinson has experienced mixed fortunes in the opening month of the new season.

Commonwealth champion Nathan Morgan beat him into second place in the indoor AAAs, but the Teessider responded with a season's best 7.95m to win the Norwich Union Grand Prix.

"That jump was actually better than it sounds," explained Tomlinson. "Because the runway in Birmingham is notoriously poor.

"It's more like an eight-metre plus jump once you take that into account and, if I can get to about 8.20m this weekend I should be there or thereabouts."