special to Irish Runner.com by Eoghan Young-Murphy

Alistair Cragg has regained full fitness after an injury that wiped out his complete past track season and is on course to capture gold at the European Cross-Country Championships in December.

So says his coach John McDonnell, the doyen of middle distance coaching, who is responsible for transforming his young protégé from being an average athlete to a runner of significant standing. The imminent retirement of Sonia O'Sullivan has brought into focus the South Africa-born star, who is widely regarded as being best placed to emulate some of the Cobh legend's achievements.

Cragg came to the attention of the world when claiming European Indoor 3,000m gold in Madrid last March, and was expected to confirm his credentials by making a breakthrough this summer.

Yet a back injury he picked up soon after proved far more serious than was initially suspected; it confined him to the treatment table for many months.

Such a lengthy lay-off prompted doubts that Cragg, 24, could make a rapid return to action - but McDonnell last night deemed him to be on course for further honours before the year concludes.

The Mayo native said: "Alistair is in outstanding shape. He has been back training now for six weeks and is intent on winning the European Cross-Country, which is well capable of.

"He could have competed at the World Championships last month, but he could only have been 75% fit. That would have let Ireland down and Alistair. There's no point in a championships runner like Alistair competing unless he's completely fit.

"Hopefully, with Alistair now running, Ireland can win a medal in the team event. With so many other good guys running - like Mark Carroll, Gareth Turnbull and Keith Kelly - that's a real possibility."

Cragg is currently in the throes of studying for the final stages of his academic studies at Arkansas University, which he hopes to finish by Christmas. He will then channel all his energies into an athletic career that promises so much.

McDonnell added: "Alistair has the potential to be one of the greatest Irish athletes in history."