After success on the track and the roads in recent years, Marc Scott returns to the mud this weekend as he bids to secure a spot on the Great Britain team for next month's European Championships.

The Northallerton distance runner finished an impressive ninth on the European stage back in 2018 but has his eyes on a top five spot - and perhaps a medal - at this year's running of the event in Turin.

But first, Scott must nail down a place in the Great Britain team, with the first four over the line at Saturday's trial at Sefton Park, in Liverpool, locking in a place in the squad, with selectors then given the choice to decide the final two spots in the six-man team.

It's the start of a big winter for Scott, who has been based in the USA in recent years but is in the process of switching training groups. And the 2021 Great North Run winner will turn his attention to the roads again after Christmas as he eyes a marathon debut in 2023.

For now, though, marathon preparations can wait, as Scott focuses on getting the job done in Liverpool this weekend.

The Richmond and Zetland Harrier said: "The last four or five weeks of training have clicked pretty well.

"I've got a good block in, running 90-100 miles a week and typical winter long stuff, with some good grass sessions. I wouldn't say I'm favourite this weekend in the sense that I haven't done cross country for a few years. But with my NCAA background in the States and even with all the years of trail running, I'll be right at home in the mud."

Scott knows the trial is all about getting the job done, with the 28-year-old happy to admit he already has eyes on the main event in Italy in a fortnight's time.

He says: "In 2018 I came third at Liverpool when I was in good shape but hadn't really raced a lot, then came ninth at Euros and was first Brit. I'm kind of going in with that mentality again. Yes, it would be great to win Liverpool but if I don't I've only had four or five weeks of really good training, so I think that will come to fruition in a couple of weeks.

"I should be a lock for the team, I'm then hoping things come alive and I'll be ready for the Euros.

"I came ninth at the Euros a few years ago so I think top five would be realistic but you never know, on the day if it goes well and it suits me I could be an outside medal shot. I just want to go there and run well, we have a good team and can hopefully win a team gold."

As he looks ahead to 2023, Scott is relishing stepping up to 26.2 miles.

He says: "The marathon has always been part of the plan, but this is maybe a couple of years earlier than I initially planned.

"I looked at the course for Paris (2024 Olympics) and thought why not give it a crack early. If it doesn't go well I can always go back to the 10k if I need to.

"I just wanted to get a bit more experience on the roads before 2024. It's so hard to be competitive on the track now, you need to be in 12.40 5k shape or 26.30 10k shape to win medals and that's probably out of reach, so we'll go to the marathon and see where we go."