Jessica Ennis-Hill in pain during comeback

Jessica Ennis-Hill admitted her ankle injury was still ­causing pain after making her ­long-awaited comeback at a low-key meeting in Loughborough last night.

The Olympic heptathlon champion competed for the first time this summer in front of an estimated 500 spectators at the Loughborough European Athletics Permit. There was good news for the 27-year-old at the Paula Radcliffe Athletics Stadium as she set a new personal best in the javelin. She produced a consistent series of throws, reaching 48.33 metres, a ­considerable ­achievement on her previous best of 47.49m. She finished in fourth place.

Tellingly, though, the ­Sheffield athlete said the injury, which is to her left Achilles tendon, was still causing her problems. “It’s pain,” she said. “It’s one little bit that’s really painful. When I compress it and when I’m pushing off it it hurts. If I had one event to prepare for then maybe it would have been a bit easier, but having to train for seven events and get all the work done that I needed to get done, it just hasn’t happened ­unfortunately.”

Ennis-Hill said the ­javelin put relatively little strain on the injury and other events would give a clearer picture of it. She was due to compete in the long jump.

“It felt okay,” she added. “It’s always been quite good with the javelin. It’s some of the other events that are a little bit more troubling with it.”