It has long been thought that athletics needs more characters and head-to-head rivalries: in Josh Kerr, the sport has one who knows exactly how to play the game on and off the track.

Kerr is a natural showman, from the golden sunglasses in Budapest last summer, the titanic surges down the home straight, to the gentle war of words with foe Jakob Ingebrigtsen - the Scot has the theatrical side of sport down to a fine art.

Crucially, he is amongst the world’s very best over 1500m. Indeed, since storming to world gold he has has looked unbeatable over 3000m too, meaning those words have been backed up with action so far.

There will be more soundbites and more scrutiny to come as attention turns to the Paris Olympics, where the showdown between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen will be one of the most hyped events in the entire calendar.

Kerr sent out another warning shot to his Norwegian rival on Saturday night, as the 26-year-old cruised to 3000m world indoor gold on home track in Glasgow.

It was perhaps the perfect response to Ingebrigsten’s claim that he could beat his rival ‘blindfolded’ over the distance, with Kerr leaving his talking for the track.

Kerr promised that would not be all until now and August, but insisted the growing rivalry is a healthy one for both men involved and the wider sport of athletics.

“I’m not sure if he watches BBC Two,” joked Kerr when asked on the Norwegian’s reaction to his victory.

“I’m putting these performances together for myself not anyone else. I am really becoming the athlete I have always wanted to be.

“We are having a bit of fun back and forth, hopefully it keeps you guys interested, but I am more looking forward to the head-to-head than all the comments. It’s a bit of fun isn’t it.

“I’m a blabbermouth. I have a bit of an ego and I enjoy talking a little bit of smack here and there. We train for hours and hours on our own and we want an outlet to explain ourselves.

“But we are just having fun. I don’t have anything against him. We are just two people who are trying to go after an Olympic title.

“That’s going to come across as a clash sometimes but there is no ill will.

“We are going to go head-to-head many times this season I believe. I don’t think I am going to win them all but I will win the right one [in Paris].”

For those looking to plan ahead, 6 August is the date to mark in your calendar for when the pair, plus fellow Scots Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley amongst others, will go for 1500m glory.

Kerr was joined by pole vaulter Molly Caudery in becoming world champions last Saturday night to create an electric atmosphere at the Commonwealth Arena.

Yet Kerr is increasingly of such status and confidence that he does not need anyone else to help him with writing the headlines, these are the moments where he steps up.

“I love these moments,” he added. “There’s a funny feeling that I get every time I step on that track that anything’s possible and I trust my instinct and trust my fitness because it’s there every single time. 

“I’m a sick boy with that. I can’t stop believing in myself.”

With that sort of attitude, Kerr likely does not need any extra words of encouragement.

But if his self-belief ever does waver, he can count on a ringing endorsement from one of the greatest-ever milers, Seb Coe, who won back-to-back Olympic golds in 1980 and 1984.

"Josh has become physically intimidating on a track,” said Coe, who is president of World Athletics.

"3,000m is a complicated distance indoors, but I thought physically and mentally he had the measure of everyone in that field. The opposition are thinking that as well.

"We are heading into Paris with the most exciting crop of young athletes I have seen for a few generations.”

The world’s best athletes were in Scotland for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 from 1-3 March, reaching millions of fans around the world