Aikines-Aryeetey is the leading light of the emerging Brits

Britain exceeded Collins' target of three, with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey winning gold to go with four bronzes.

"I believe a few of our seniors will be starting to look over their shoulder," said performance director Collins.

"The effective conversion of potential talent to world-class achievement is our biggest focus."

As well as the 100m gold for 17-year-old Aikines-Aryeetey in Beijing, Alex Nelson and Martyn Rooney took bronze in the 200m and 400m respectively, as did the men's 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

The team failed to bring home any medal from the last World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy, two years ago.

"The transition from juniors to seniors is the crucial part," Collins reiterated. "We are working hard on the support system and management of the junior athletes.

In 2002 the sport was shaped like a Polo mint Dave Collins

"The number of personal bests was also very encouraging, as well as the number of athletes (12 - six male, six female) finishing in the top eight."

After a number of promising performances from younger members of the senior team at the European Championships, where Britain won 11 medals, Collins believes the overall picture is healthy for the future.

"The average age of our eight individual medallists in Gothenburg was just under 24," Collins added.

"This reflects the transition we are making with new faces coming through from the junior ranks and progressing as seniors.

"Four years ago, our medallists were athletes (including Steve Backley and Colin Jackson) nearing the end of their career who have now retired, so this is the next generation coming through.

"Some outstanding individual athletes disguised the fact that we were off the pace in 2002.

"In fact we almost seemed to miss a generation. The sport was shaped like a Polo mint, with a big void beneath the established world-class athletes that have now retired.

"But I have seen a much better competitive attitude from the athletes this summer. Athletes are stepping up, but this is just the beginning."