McColgan is more involved in coaching these days

McColgan, one of Britain's greatest-ever distance runners, announced her retirement from competitive athletics just over two years ago.

But after some impressive road racing performances this year, the Scot is considering lining up on the Sefton Park startline on Saturday.

The main obstacle to her participation is that several of her young proteges are competing in the Reebok Cross Challenge - the umbrella event for the trials.

The 39-year-old, who has five of her squad in prominent positions in the overall Reebok standings said: "I'm going to keep my options open.

"The problem is, if I'm going to race, I'd need to be warming-up at the time I want to be seeing the kiddies running.

"I shall need to be absolutely sure I've found someone to look after them properly before I decide to run."

One Scot definitely taking part in Saturday's trials in an attempt to earn a place in Great Britain's European Championships team for the event in Edinburgh on 14 December is Freya Murray.

Murray, a member of the British junior side that claimed the gold medals 12 months ago, has a particular reason for fighting it out for selection - she trains at the race venue in Holyrood Park.

But she also knows it will take a superhuman effort on her part, with almost every top Briton apart from Paula Radcliffe taking part.

"It would be just amazing," she admitted.

"If I don't make the team, it won't be the end of the world because this is my first season as a senior - but it would be especially nice to run in front of my home crowd."