Richard Goodman's first race back after injury could hardly have been tougher, but in it he proved he can hold his own against the very best runners from Europe and America.

The event was the 8.2km Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country, televised live on BBC. The starting line-up included Mo Farah, European 5,000m and 10,000m champion, and nine-time European Cross Country champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine.

Coming 27th overall behind winner Mo Farah, Goodman, 17, came third amongst the Under 23s, beaten by a 21-year-old and a 20-year-old respectively.

Goodman said: "My sprint finish gave me a nice prize of beating Jesus Espana, 2006 European 5,000m champion."

Goodman is now targeting the World Cross-Country Championships in March.