Diamond League: Mo Farah says he is back after 'tough year'

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has described this as his "toughest year" and said he will focus on the track up until the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Farah, 31, has endured a troubled 2014, withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because of fitness concerns.

The Briton was also disappointed with his eighth-place finish on his London Marathon debut in April.

"It's been difficult, from the marathon where I wanted to do better, to getting ill. It's been a struggle," he said.

But the Londoner, who became the most successful non-relay athlete, male or female, in European Championships history with double distance gold last week, added: "It's been an up and down year but I'm back on top now."

The Briton said he had learned from his London Marathon experience, but admitted he was not yet ready to compete over the 26-mile distance.

"After Rio we'll try again but for now I'll concentrate on the track," he said.

"It's been the toughest year of my career for sure, certainly the toughest I've had for many years. I hadn't been injured for many years and this season was tough.

"I'm already looking ahead to the 2015 World Championships in Beijing but in long distance running you can only take one year at a time, you can't look two years beyond. But yes, it's obviously there."

The recently-crowned 5,000m and 10,000m European champion will race over two miles at Sunday's Birmingham Diamond League, his first meeting in Britain since the London Marathon.

Farah will be one of a number of British athletes at Alexandra Stadium who shone at the European Championships in Zurich, helping Britain top the medal table for only the third time in their history.

The team won a record-breaking 12 gold medals, one of which was won by Olympic and Commonwealth champion Greg Rutherford, who is set to compete in the men's long jump on Sunday.

European 800m silver medallist Lynsey Sharp will race in a field which includes promising American Ajee Wilson and Britons Laura Muir and Hannah England.

European 400m champion Martyn Rooney and European silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith will battle with Olympic champion Kirani James over one lap.

European 200m silver medallist Jodie Williams will race over 100m, while Tiffany Porter competes in the women's 110m hurdles for the first time since her European triumph.

In the women's 400m, Christine Ohuruogu will line up for what is likely to be her penultimate race of the season.

The 30-year-old has only competed in five individual 400m this year after reducing her schedule before defending her title at next year's World Championships.

"Beijing will be a big year next year, I know some people will be coming after me," said the Londoner. "I have to make sure everything I do this year is guiding me towards having the best of preparation for next year."