British Athletics also announces that Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the event in Belgrade

Multi-eventer Ashley Bryant has been named as captain of the British team for the European Indoor Championships taking place in Belgrade, Serbia, from March 3-5.

Bryant, who claimed decathlon silver at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will lead a team of 32 athletes including the record-breaking Laura Muir, defending European 60m champion Richard Kilty and world 60m hurdles number one Andrew Pozzi, plus Olympic medallists Robbie Grabarz, Asha Philip and Eilidh Doyle.

Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson will no longer be among those travelling to Belgrade, with the 2015 pentathlon champion having withdrawn from the long jump competition. The 24-year-old also missed the Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham due to hamstring strain.

“It’s an absolute honour to be chosen as captain of such a strong team heading out to Belgrade,” said Bryant, whose fifth-place in Amsterdam last year was the highest finish by a Briton in the decathlon at the European Championships since 1986.

“It's my first time captaining the senior championship team and is a real step up from being World Juniors captain back in 2010. I’ve personally had a great indoor season so far and to be given this role is the icing on the cake.

"It is an absolutely massive year for British Athletics with London 2017 just around the corner, but our focus this weekend is very much on Belgrade. I hope the team can continue to produce the fine performances we’ve already seen during the indoor season and enjoy a very successful championships.”

British Athletics performance director Neil Black said: “In many ways a combined eventer is the perfect athletics captain. They have experience across so many disciplines, both on the track and in the field. Ashley has all the qualities required to lead this talented group of athletes to success in Belgrade and I am delighted he has accepted this role.”