TEESSIDE long jumper Chris Tomlinson will compete on the North-East stage next month in the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gateshead.

The 24-year-old is likely to be among a world class field on June 11 when he will also take on his domestic rivals rivals Nathan Morgan, Greg Rutherford and Phillips Idowu

Idowu took triple jump silver in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and represents the biggest challenge to Tomlinson, who finished sixth in this year's Commonwealths in Melbourne.

But the Middlesbrough athlete feels he is on the verge of returning to the sort of form which secured him a second European victory two years ago as well as his first AAA senior outdoor title.

He said: "I was disappointed with my position at the Commonwealth Games. I would have liked a medal - especially coming back from injury. I've now got to look towards the future and build on my 2004 success when I was fifth in the Athens Olympics."

It was only four years Tomlinson broke the British record with a leap of 8.27m. But a series of injuries - notably a ripped adductor, a broken toe and a knee injury - hindered his performance.

"I missed a year in the sport due to injury but I'm forgetting about 2005 and I want to start from where I left off in 2004, get a few jumps over 8m and get my technique together, then I want to really build on 2004 and move up the world rankings," he said.

"My training would now indicate that I'm back up to my best so I'd like to get closer to world and Olympic champion Dwight Phillips this year."

Gateshead will also host the a showdown between the two fastest men in the world. The record holder of the 100m, Asafa Powell, will run at the meeting alongside world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin.