Martyn Rooney said his massive confidence boosting back-to-back 400m victories in Zagreb and Brussels last week has given him something to build on for next season.

The 26-year-old Croydon Harrier went back to ŠRC Mladost Stadium in the Croatian capital last Tuesday to repeat his success from 12 months ago in Boris Hanžeković Memorial IAAF World Challenge meeting, beating former world and Olympic gold medallist Kerron Clement and current European champion Pavel Maslák to clock 45.29 seconds.

Then, on Friday, he rounded off his successful European venture in Brussels by closely edging home favourite Jonathan Borlee in the IAAF Diamond League finale Memorial van Damme posting a season's best 45.05secs.

"It's lovely to win races especially with two on the bounce," said Crystal Palace FC crazy Rooney, who was happy to finish his tough 2013 season on a high but in winning ways.

"I've been ill for a week-and-a-half but to finish with a season's best, I'm happy with that."

"It's been a very tough year but recently I've been guided very well by my new coach Rana Reider who has looked after me very well with all the tough times.

"Missing the world champs was tough but coming back I have got to try to get my times down.

"It's a bit late in the season but gives me something to build on for next year."

Also in the Belgium capital Rooney's fellow Croydon Harrier James Dasaolu was hardly near Usain Bolt's winning 9.80secs in men's 100m as the young British hope clocked 10.15secs to finish eighth.

"For me it was about executing the start and I didn't do that as well as I would've liked to," said Dasaolu.

"I gave it my best, but maybe I was a bit distracted. When you look at my goals for the season I wanted to run sub-10 seconds, which I have done twice and I made the final in Russia."

Your Local Guardian:

Not this time: Croydon Harrier James Dasaolu finished eighth in the 100m in last week's Diamond League finale in Brussels