The 23-year-old Irishman had hoped to return to full training later this month but a scan has revealed that there is "no significant improvement" to the problem which prevented him from competing at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Smyth has already been forced to abandon plans to travel to Florida to train due to the injury and visa problems and there is growing concern that he may not recover in time to compete in New Zealand. 

"We now will have to more discussions with the medical people over the next couple of days and see where we go from there," said Stephen Maguire, Smyth's coach.

"He has been able to train over the last number of weeks and we had a hill session today up at Belfast Zoo and I was quite happy how it went and how his recovery was.

"But the training is not specific enough for what a top-class sprinter needs so we have to give the overall situation some thought over the coming days and plot the course for the rest of the winter."

Smyth has been receiving treatment at the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland over the past seven weeks.

But back problem is bone-related which has slowed down his recovery.

The double Paralympic champion ran a Northern Ireland record of 10.32sec in mid-June and a wind-assisted 10.27 but his build-up to the European Championships was then affected by injury.

Smyth was unable to race for a six-week period before the European Championships but nevertheless still reached the semi-final.


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October 2010: Smyth heads Irish team for Christchurch
August 2010: Smyth ruled out of Commonwealth Games through injury
August 2010: Liam Harbison - Smyth's achievement highlights the progress of Paralympic sport in Ireland
August 2010: Smyth happy with his swift progress towards London 2012