Macey's target is a medal at the World Championships in August

Decathlete Dean Macey will make his return from long-term injury next month.

Macey has been unable to compete in a decathlon since he came third at the World Championships in Edmonton in August 2001.

But the Canvey Island athlete has been in serious training with coach Greg Richards after undergoing an operation to treat a career-threatening hamstring problem last November.

Macey has now set his sights on competing in the two-day event at the "Hypo Meeting" in Gotzis, which begins on 31 May, to prepare for the World Championships in Paris in August.

The Austrian venue was where former Olympic champion Daley Thompson set the first of his three world records in 1982 and Czech Roman Sebrle set the current best mark of 9,026 points two years ago.

Macey will be out to better the World Championships qualifying mark of 8,090 points - a standard which under normal circumstances is well within his capabilities.

"I'm about 80% fit at the moment," said Macey, who currently has a minor hamstring problem.

"If I can get the aches and niggles cleared up, I'm sure I can win a medal in Paris."