Put your faith in me for Beijing Olympics gold, says Phillips Idowu

Idowu goes into this weekend's two-day European Cup here as the only Briton topping this year's world rankings with a leap of 17.55 metres in his only outdoor competition.

Idowu: top ranking

'This is the position I should have been for years. It's time I started fulfilling all of that potential,' said the world indoor champion.

'Being No 1 doesn't really matter. Going into Valencia (the world indoor championships) this year I was ranked third and won by a big margin. But it does give me the confidence that I can win at the Olympics.

'I have been thinking about being Olympic champion since I went to my first London schools championships in 1995, the year Jonathan Edwards broke the world record. I'd like to think I could do that this year.'

Idowu used to resent Edwards' criticism from the commentary box that he under-performed, but now he accepts it was right.

'He has to point out the negatives,' said the Londoner. 'I take it on the chin but I've been performing in 2008 and it's nice to hear him say it,' said the Londoner. 'Jonathan's done a lot of things I haven't and when he criticises I can't say anything. He wouldn't be saying it if he thought I was just going to scrape into a final. He believes I can win major titles and jump 18 metres. Now I'm going to go out and prove him right.'

Britain's men last won the European Cup when it came to this small French town in 2002 but had the achievement struck from the records four years later after Dwain Chambers' admission he was taking drugs at the time.

They return for a last occasion in its present format - a combined men's and women's team will be part of an inaugural European Team Championships next year - with a selection composed almost entirely of those expected to be in the Olympic team.

The chances of Radcliffe, world marathon record holder and former gold medal favourite, making that team recede.

Performance director Dave Collins confirmed that her rehabilitation is on its original schedule but added: 'I'd like to have been able to say it's ahead of schedule. She is not running yet.'

The British Olympic Association has given him until July 20 to confirm the team. He said: 'It's the BOA's team, not mine. They have the right to look at whether an athlete is fit to take part and if she would be competitive.'.