Olympic long jump finalist Chris Tomlinson will find any record-breaking efforts overshadowed by the return of Dwain Chambers at this weekend's World Indoor trials in Sheffield.

Last weekend, the 26-year-old added a centimetre to his four-year-old British indoor mark when he cleared 8.18metres to win Stuttgart's Sparkassen Cup title.

However, the Teessider was a little disappointed that in his build-up to next month's World Indoor Championships in Valencia, his achievement was overlooked.

Now the UK indoor and outdoor record holder is aiming for another improvement when he bids for his place in Team GB.

However, with Chambers competing in the 60metres after UK Athletics originally rejected his entry, the former drug cheat will dominate the headlines - whatever Tomlinson or the other British stars achieve.

UKA, who claimed Chambers was ineligible to represent Great Britain for another 12 months after a programme of drug testing, relented when advised by the International Association of Athletics Federations he could compete.

Now UKA are dreading he wins his sprint clash ahead of favourite Craig Pickering, with victory assuring him of automatic selection for Valencia.

The 60m, also featuring world junior 100m champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and European U23 100m gold medallist Simeon Williamson will be the story of the day for all of the wrong reasons.

Tomlinson accepts this but believes athletics should be making the news for the right seasons and, Chambers apart, the sport should not remain in the shadows of England's failing footballers.

"It frustrates me," said Tomlinson, who has relocated from the north east to live in London with his partner.

"Our footballers are rubbish, they can't even qualify for the Europeans yet are still always on the back pages because people want to know gossip.

"I was brought up to be a football fan but in the late 80s-90s, it was the Colin Jacksons and Linford Christies measuring up to the Gary Linekers.

"Now it is different.

"People like gossip and stories, which is why football is so big."

He added: "We need to show that athletics is a good laugh. For example, if I could take a camera into the Olympic village, I could probably get 10million viewers!

"You never talk to anyone who doesn't like athletics - it seems to be the second favourite sport of everyone.

"At the end of the day, people will watch what they are told to watch and that is football."

Tomlinson believes there must be a change in emphasis on publicity for the sport ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.

He continued: "London will hopefully keep the momentum leading up to it and it's also important we look to gain support this year, given that England didn't qualify for the Europeans."

Tomlinson leads the world rankings this year and is determined to finally come away with a major championship medal in Valencia.

"I'm well aware that I have not won anything yet," said the athlete coached by Peter Stanley, who looked after the career of world triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards.

"I've shown big jumps in competitions and made every final but have come away with little for that.

"Hopefully I can translate my indoor form into outdoors, but I don't want to shout my mouth off too early as some athletes do.

"Once you set flag marks, you then think you can't go any further than that so I prefer to set no boundaries.

"I think horizontal jumps are our strongest event across the board - bar the relays - which comes from the coaches we have and also the atmosphere."

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