EILISH GIFT AID

McColgan will use bracelet from her late grandmother as 'source of strength' and mum in Rome crowd is icing on the cake

- ALAN SMITH

EILISH MCCOLGAN hopes a bracelet gifted by her late grandmother can inspire her to take a giant step tonight towards the Olympic Games.

The Scottish star admits she feels vulnerable knowing that the Paris selectors are waiting for her to prove fitness, having endured a torrid time with a left knee injury since breaking the British half marathon record 14 months ago.

The passing of her stepdad John Nuttall, who ran in the 5,000m at the 1996 Olympics, and her maternal grandmother in recent months has made it the most difficult period of her career.

But in the nick of time she is returning to shape and will be lifted further by having her mum, Liz, cheering from the sidelines for this evening's 10,000m final at the European Championships.

And McColgan will look at the bracelet given to her by grandmother Betty Lynch for a boost when the pain of 25 laps sets in.