Sir Mo Farah will target a sixth successive Great North Run title on Sunday with “no regrets” over his decision to skip the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Qatar.

Farah’s name was notable by its absence from the Great Britain squad announced this week as the 36-year-old shifts his focus to retaining his Chicago Marathon crown on October 13.

With his glittering track career now seemingly consigned to history, Farah is gaining fresh motivation from the prospect of further establishing himself as one of the men to be feared over longer distances.

In the meantime Farah is favourite to become the first athlete to win six Great North Run titles on Sunday, which would see him surpass Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who has won five in the women’s wheelchair race.

He added: “This is a really important race for me before Chicago because it gives me the opportunity to assess my performance and get back to basics.

“A lot has changed since I won my first Great North Run in 2014. I have been getting stronger every year and I have every intention of crossing that bridge leading the pack once again.”