Twickenham-based European senior men’s 2006 cross country champion Mo Farah has a chance to regain his European cross country crown in Brussels on December 14.

Farah, the only big name missing from Saturday’s trials in Sefton Park, Liverpool, has been included in the six-strong senior men’s squad, having returned from six weeks’ altitude training in Ethiopia the day before the trials.

Local runners make up two-thirds of the senior men’s team, which was announced by UK Athletics yesterday.

Also in the squad are Worcester Park-based Belgrave runner Phil Wicks, Hampton runner Mike Skinner and Twickenham-based Scott Overall, who finished sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in Saturday’s trial race.

Farah, who was denied the chance to defend his title last year due to a groin injury, said yesterday: “I think I am in fairly good shape. It’s difficult to know, as I have just come down from altitude so I won’t feel the benefit for another couple of weeks.

“Track is where it really matters but cross country is very important to me, too.”

Farah, the European 5,000m silver medallist, added: “I have always tried to compete at this event, going right back to when I was a junior.

“Last year I was injured, so I’m one step ahead of where I was going into this year.

“I think we have a good team, a young team, and, if we all run to our potential, then we can have a successful championships.”

St Mary’s ace Andy Vernon, who won Saturday’s trial race has, as expected, been named for the men’s U23s team, along with fellow St Mary’s students Keith Gerrard and Ben Lindsay, who were second and fourth respectively in the U23s trial.

Also, as expected, senior women’s race winner Steph Twell, the world junior 1,500m champion, has been named for the junior women’s team.

Trials runner-up Nick Goulab will be a second Belgrave runner in the UK squad in Belgium as he has been named for the junior men’s team.

Looking forward to Brussels, UK Athletics senior performance co-ordinator Spencer Barden said: “This year, we will be looking to build on our past performances and again top the medal table.”