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Kelly Sotherton has been forced to withdraw from the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham with a heel injury.

Sotherton was due to compete against Olympic heptathlon champion Nataliya Dobrynska in a three-event challenge at the National Indoor Arena.

But the Commonwealth champion has been told she must rest for several days after having an injection into her heel.

The 32-year-old Birchfield Harrier has been plagued with injuries this year, missing the Aviva International in Glasgow with a back injury.

She won silver in the shot put in the European Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield on Sunday, but pulled out of the high jump as a precaution with the recurrence of a hip problem.

"I'm gutted not to be competing this weekend, especially as it's in Birmingham and in front of my home crowd," Sotherton said. "I love competing here so I am very frustrated that I'll have to sit out and watch it instead.

"I sustained an injury at the trials which is preventing me from competing but I'm hoping that the treatment I am receiving will enable me to be on the start line (for the penatathlon) at the European Indoors."

The European Indoor Championships take place in Turin between March 6-8.

Olympic triple jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu will also be absent this weekend with the knee injury that saw him miss last week's trials in Sheffield.

Sporting Life / Eurosport