Adere eventually finished second behind O'Sullivan in Manchester in May

Adere was controversially dropped from Ethiopia's Olympic 10,000m team and subsequently suspended for criticising her national federation's decision.

She was carrying an Achilles injury in the build-up to Athens, but Adere insisted she was fit to compete.

However, the ban was lifted after the athlete apologised to the authorities.

In the absence of last year's Great North Run winner Paula Radcliffe, Adere, who finished second on Tyneside in 2004, will now start the race as favourite.

She made an impressive return to track action when winning over 5,000m in Berlin's Golden League meeting on Sunday.

Academy: Guide to the Great North Run

An upbeat Adere said: "I'm fit again and confident that I can improve upon my run of last year. I know I can win."

Former winner Sonia O'Sullivan is also entered and the Irish veteran, who beat Adere in the Great Manchester Run in May, will provide formidable competition.

Australian Benita Johnson, the surprise winner of this year's World Cross Country Championships, will also pose a threat.

Another star attraction will be 2001 champion Susan Chepkemei of Kenya, who was third in last year's race.

Morris currently heads the UK marathon rankings

Radcliffe is taking a break after the Olympics where she failed to finish both the marathon and 10,000m.

Meanwhile, Tracey Morris, the former Yorkshire fun-runner who earned a shock Olympic call-up, will compete in the 10-mile Great South Run on Sunday, 10 October.

Morris, who booked her Athens berth after finishing 10th in April's London Marathon, came home 29th in Greece.

But she has taken time out to rest an on-going back niggle and misses this month's Great North Run.

Grandstand discussion area: Have Your Say on Athletics

Matthew Turnbull, athletics director for both races, said: "Tracey is a welcome addition to the Great South. I'm sure she will get a heroes' welcome."

Morris currently heads the UK rankings list and could see herself acknowledged as British number one for this year, unless she is overtaken by a rival in the forthcoming autumn marathons.