McKee needs to run a personal best to qualify for Beijing

McKee's long association with Belfast-based Bill Kelly helped him win a world indoor medal in 2003.

However, the Belfast 400 metre runner is now being guided by Hogg, whose group of athletes includes Irish sprinter Paul Hession.

"Stuart's got a very good group of full-time athletes," said McKee.

The group also includes Scottish sprinter Nick Smith who competed for Britain in the 2004 Olympics.

Smith opted to leave Hogg after competing in the Athens Olympics but he is now being guided again by the former Aberdeen FC and Dunfermline Athletic fitness coach.

"I will be going over to train at Meadowbank for at least one full week every month," McKee told BBC Sport.

"There are great facilities there with an 80 metre indoor track on site as well.

"So far, everything is going very well after the switch.

I feel as though I can definitely get the Irish record back Paul McKee

"Stuart is very hands on and he's been talking to me about my nutrition and he's also been in touch with a doctor in an effort to find out what can be done with the sleep problem which has affected me throughout my career.

"I've only been with him a short time but the quality of the work is already very evident and I definitely feel that I'm starting to get more of a solid base behind me."

McKee is convinced that he is capable of getting back to the form that saw him set his personal best of 45.58 in 2002.

"I'm definitely aiming to run personal bests again. I have to do that if want to go to the Olympics because the qualifying is 45.55.

"I felt I was starting to tick over a little bit. I ran 46.04 this year but I didn't really feel that I was doing myself justice.

"I've completely given up work now and everything is focused on getting to Beijing and running 45.55 is the minimum target."

European Indoor Champion David Gillick smashed McKee's mark with a 45.23 clocking in June but the Belfast man doesn't believe that the national record is now out of sight for him.

"David has had a great year but I feel as though I can definitely get the Irish record back."