Greg Rutherford in Great Britain’s squad for World…

Greg Rutherford in Great Britain’s squad for World Indoor Championships

Greg Rutherford will compete at the World Indoor Championships in Portland having recovered from a minor injury and cold. Photograph: Michael Buholzer/AFP/Getty Images

Greg Rutherford has given Britain’s medals hopes at the World Indoor Championships a major boost by deciding to compete in Portland later this month.

Rutherford, the reigning Olympic and world long jump champion, has declared himself fit after missing the recent Glasgow Indoor grand prix and British trials with a minor injury and cold.

Rutherford joins a 23-strong squad that includes the British 100m and 200m record holder Dina Asher-Smith, the world championship silver medallist Shara Proctor, and the Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz.

Lynsey Sharp, a European and Commonwealth silver medallist over 800m, also has realistic medal prospects after a last-minute decision to travel to Portland.

Sharp finished a disappointing third in the British trials in Sheffield at the weekend but afterwards explained that she had not yet concentrated on speed work during the indoor season. That will change now that she has decided to join Adelle Tracey, the hugely impressive winner, in the British squad.

One surprise is that Andrew Robertson, who set a lifetime best in finishing second behind James Dasaolu in the British trials, being given the nod ahead of Sean Safo-Antwi, who has been so impressive throughout the winter but could only come third in Sheffield.

Even so, the British team will travel to Portland for the championships, from 17-20 March, without many of its star names. Mo Farah has elected to skip Portland to run the World Half Marathon in Cardiff on Easter Saturday, while Jessica Ennis-Hill missed the indoor season; the 400m British champion Nigel Levine, the 60m hurdles champion Andy Pozzi and the 1500m champion Hannah England also declined selection in favour of concentrating on the outdoor season.

But UK Athletics’ performance director Neil Black is confident his squad will do well in Portland and forecast a strong medal haul. “There have been some excellent performances during the indoor season and we are confident that many of those selected will be challenging for medals,” he said. “It is important to remember that British Athletics’ focus, as well as that of the individual athletes, is geared towards Rio in this Olympic year and the World Indoors is one of many stepping stones our athletes will look to use.”