Champ in waiting

The City of Sheffield star finished fourth in her first ever World Championship heptathlon as Kluft went on to retain the title she won in Helsinki and Paris.

The Swede aims to quit the sport after defending her Olympic title in Beijing next year and believes the 21-year old Brit could be her successor.

"It's obvious she's going to be the one to watch," said Kluft. "She's still young and learning some of the events but there aren't too many weaknesses.

"This was her first major championships and you can't fail to be impressed. If she maintains this level, she'll be hard to beat in a few years time."

British teammate and bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton also backed Ennis to succeed Kluft, when the next World Championships are held in Berlin.

"I think the major difference between me and her at the moment is my experience," said Sotherton.

"I've been here before and she hasn't but she will learn from this. I think by 2009 she'll be a totally different athlete.

"She is the best of the crop coming through and she'll be one of the favourites for gold in two years.

"She won all three track events, although there are obviously other disciplines she needs to improve. Her shot is her Achilles heel at the moment but there's still time."

The 30-year old nicknamed Ennis 'Tadpole' during last year's Commonwealth Games – a tag the Sheffield athlete admitted she hated.

But Sotherton insists the two are friends, not rivals.

"I've got a new nickname for her now but she'll kill me if I told you," she joked.

"People make up that we're rivals and say we hate each other but that's total rubbish. I think Jess is great and I'm chuffed she's coming through. No-one will cheer louder for her than me."

Norwich Union is making sport the winner in your

community. Help a local sporting initiative win 50,000 by voting at the website, norwichunion.com/joinourteam