Aviva International: Turner ready to track progress of his technical tweaks

EUROPEAN and Commonwealth hurdles champion Andy Turner begins a season in which he wants to contend for a world championship in Glasgow next Saturday, part of the Great Britain team which will face Germany, Sweden and the United States in the annual Aviva International at the Kelvin Hall.

Already conscious that there remains a gulf to bridge between himself and the true elite, he will have a measuring stick at his side in the shape of David Oliver. Unbeaten since 2009, and now, officially, the third-fastest of all-time, the American has become Turner's barometer - as well as his role model.

During the winter, the Englishman employed an analyst to unlock a path to self-improvement. Unwittingly, Oliver provided the key. Using special software, Turner discovered a disparity in the time both men took to get over hurdles. His rival's technique, they discovered, was worth around two-tenths of a second in a race, a fraction which closely resembles the difference in their personal bests.

Mirroring Oliver remains a work in progress. "It won't happen overnight," he admitted. "There's a few small tweaks, little drills to do. It's quite hard and it will take a while. It's giving me something to aim at. It's not copying him. You watch what people do and what their strengths and weaknesses are. And his strength is getting quickly over the hurdles."

Critically, Turner now has the self-belief he once lacked. His career was almost derailed when his funding was withdrawn three years ago but he is no longer off-track. "I believe he has the ability to get his times down to contend for world and Olympic medals," Oliver proclaimed. "I've trained with him. I know he has the heart. He just needs to clean up a couple of things."

The indoor season will be solely a rehearsal, Turner confirmed. There are bigger prizes in store, such as the World Championships in Korea and, of course, the Olympics in London in 18 months' time.

"Part of me feels this might be a transition year, working on the technical aspects," revealed Turner.

He will not be alone in Glasgow in testing the waters after months of graft behind closed doors. Jessica Ennis will compete in the sprint hurdles and long jump, while her fellow European medallists, Mark Lewis-Francis and Jenny Meadows, will want to set out their respective stalls. Precious few Scots will be on show. The national head coach Laurier Primeau announced this week that he is soon to depart, 18 months into a tenure which was due to last until 2014. Only Sarah Kelly, the world junior finalist, has been confirmed in Team GB for the Aviva meeting. His successor has much work to do.

Honest toil is no bad thing, Turner says. The devil makes work for idle hands. "I had a couple of weeks after Delhi when I didn't want to think about athletics," he admitted. "It had been so much mentally. But, after that, I had itchy feet and wanted to get back into it. I can't wait to race in Glasgow. I'm just excited about getting back on the track again."