CHRIS Tomlinson has been forced to pull out of this afternoon's Norwich Union International in Glasgow after an early repeat of the injury jinx that wrecked his World Championship hopes last season.

The Middlesbrough-born long jumper had been hoping to step up his preparations for March's World Indoor Championships with an appearance in the traditional curtain-raiser at the Kelvin Hall.

But, after injuring his left knee in training, Tomlinson's plans are back on hold. The 23-year-old suffered toe and hernia injuries last year, restricting his outdoor season to just three below-par leaps at the World Championships in Helsinki.

And, with the start of the Commonwealth Games less than two months away, his preparations for this season's first major championships are already in similar turmoil.

"You think, 'I'm going to really make an impact now' and then bang, you get injured," said Tomlinson, who has slipped out of the world's top eight after a season on the sidelines.

"I was planning to focus on the World Indoors, which are on March 10, and then fly out to Melbourne after that. Now, we'll have to see what happens. The injury has caused a problem in terms of planning.

"I think it's come from a combination of changing my long jump technique, doing deeper squats and gradual wear and tear.

"The biggest thing now is resisting the temptation to push myself too hard. If I do, this injury is only going to get worse. It's not going to get better by running and jumping on it.

"I have to be careful and look at the bigger picture. That means the outdoor season and, further down the line, the Worlds and Olympic Games."

This afternoon's competition sees Great Britain take on Sweden, Italy, Russia and a Commonwealth Select side and, while Tomlinson and fellow long jumper Jade Johnson will both be absent, a number of leading British figures will be hoping to press their Commonwealth medal claims.

Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton will replace Johnson in the long jump, with former world indoor 400m champion Daniel Caines, Commonwealth long jump champion Nathan Morgan also starring in the event.