Amid the hyperbole which has grown around Laura Muir in recent weeks comes a protective interjection from her coach Andy Young.

"We shouldn't be putting too many expectations on her," he declared. "But that's difficult when you're sitting top of the world rankings."

Muir, as he acknowledges, has brought the hubris upon herself. After confirmation of her selection in the British team for next month's world indoor championships in Sopot, she is, inescapably, one of the brightest medal prospects. At the age of 20, there will hopefully be many such opportunities to come but there is, after all, no time like the present.

The Glasgow University student will not be diverted from her own grand plan. It is, and has always been, the 2017 world outdoor championships in London which have been enshrined as her expected prime. Anything else, adds Young, is a bonus. The Scottish record holder, who heads the global rankings over 800 metres, readily concedes the speed of her ascent has caught her off guard.

"Two or three years ago, I'd have been very lucky to even medal in a Scottish age group race," she said. "My mentality has had to change because before, I just saw running as a hobby. I just enjoyed it for what it was. Now I will be competing in these huge races, and hopefully winning, so my outlook has altered.

"I never saw this coming at all really. For the whole of my athletics career before I went to university, I only ever won one Scottish age group title at under-15s. That was it. I never saw myself competing for GB let alone being at this level. It is quite a shock and I've had to get used to it over the past two or three years. But I'm delighted with how things are going."

It is Muir's finishing kick which has brought her out of the blue. Pegged as gutsy, framed as diminutive, she is nevertheless capable of blowing rivals away with sheer pace - a potent tool in her armoury. It is, however, no longer a secret weapon. Nobody in Sopot will sleep on Milnathort's finest in her current mood.

"It's very strange and I don't think it's really hit home yet," she admitted. "You see all those amazing athletes and then you think I've ran faster than all of them. It's fantastic to know I'm up there as the world's best and people are almost intimidated by me, which is scary in its own way."

Muir is one of five Sopot-bound Scottish athletes with Chris O'Hare handed a 1500m berth, Jamie Bowie getting a 4x400m call-up and Eilidh Child, as expected, also opting for the relay in order to focus her energies on the summer ahead.

The biggest surprise in the 35-strong squad unveiled yesterday was the inclusion of Eilish McColgan in the 3000m, even though the 23-year-old has yet to race in 2014. Having observed her in training in Kenya recently, UK Athletics performance director Neil Black has no fears about her the Dundonian's readiness. "She was ill a little bit before the trials and before Birmingham so we didn't take the risk," he said. "But we feel like she'll come out and demonstrate she's in good shape."

James Dasaolu, who was the favourite in the 60m, has been ruled out through injury, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson has opted to compete in the long jump after being denied a pentathlon wildcard place.