AN English Commonwealth Games cycling hero is hoping to add to his medal collection - by representing Scotland.

David Daniell, 24, won silver for England in the Keiran at the 2010 Games in Dehli and hopes to qualify for the English team again for the 2014 Games in Glasgow.

But the talented sprint cyclist plans to switch his allegiance after this year's event and represent Team Scotland at the 2018 Games, by which time he will have been resident long enough to qualify to represent his new home country.

David moved from Middlesbrough to East Kilbride last year and is a part-time cycling coach at the Sir Chris Hoy ­Velodrome in Glasgow.

He is so impressed with the facilities on offer there that he intends to stay in Scotland.

David, who has been handed a massive boost thanks to a one-year professional sponsorship deal with Cycle Law Scotland, said: "I moved up here because of the new velodrome, which is the best facility in the UK. Once I am eligible, I hope to represent Scotland."

Cycle Law Scotland is a ­specialist law firm set up to represent cyclists.

Cycle Law Scotland founder, Brenda Mitchell, said: "Cycle Law Scotland is delighted to offer David sponsorship for the next year as he truly deserves a helping hand.

"He has worked tirelessly to rebuild his dream of being a professional cyclist and it is important his hard work is recognised."

David was at the top of his sport after the 2010 Games, ­before vital knee surgery left him unable to return to training for 15 weeks.

In autumn 2012, after badly twisting his leg on a casual road ride, David lost around 40% of the cartilage in his joint causing a massive impact on his training schedule.

Despite intensive therapy and a gradual return to training, David was dropped from the British team just before Christmas 2012 as he was no longer able to perform at the level he had shown pre-injury.

He said: "The support from Cycle Law Scotland is a massive help towards the everyday costs of being able to train and getting me back to competitive level.

"With their support, my dream of qualifying to cycle for Scotland in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast City Australia can ­become a reality.

"The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is the perfect place for me to train.It's known as a slower track because of the severity of the slope but it's also a very technically challenging track, which is why competitors like it so much."

As well as the facilities, the name attached to the building offers inspiration.

David adds: "Sir Chris is the very reason I got into the sport at all. He's an inspiration for what he has achieved on the track and what he has done for the sport."

stef.lach@eveningtimes.co.uk