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Legendary one-lapper Derek Redmond believes that in the sizeable shape of Matthew Hudson-Smith, British athletics may have found itself an athlete to rekindle the halcyon days of 400-metre running.

World, Commonwealth and European relay medallist Redmond was a huge part of two generations of outstanding British quarter-milers, including household names Phil Brown, Todd Bennett, Jon Regis and Roger Black.

Britain had one of the strongest relay squads in the world in the early 1990s and, even after Redmond’s retirement, carried on punching above its weight with stars like Iwan Thomas, Mark Richardson and Jamie Baulch. But since then the global medals have dried up.

However, Redmond recognises similarities between Hudson-Smith’s career path and his own, and hopes the 19-year-old, who has made a major breakthrough in the last few days and been selected for next month’s European Championships, can be the catalyst that livens up this country’s 400m scene.

Both shared the same coach, one-lap guru Tony Hadley, both come from the same club, Birchfield Harriers – and Redmond thinks the youngster could follow in his own exalted footsteps.

Like Hudson-Smith, Redmond was still a teenager when he broke the 45-second barrier, in Oslo in 1985, before he went on to twice set a new British record.

His outstanding career also took him to two Olympic Games and brought 4x400m golds at virtually every level. But perhaps the abiding image of his time in the sport came at Barcelona 92 when his father helped him cross the finish line after he’d torn his hamstring.

Redmond possessed an excellent work ethic but also outstanding talent and the 48-year-old detects that in his old coach’s latest protégé after Hudson-Smith joined him as only the second British teenager to break 45 seconds.