Birmingham 2022 is due to run between July 28 and August 8, with the flagship World Athletics event only ending in Eugene on July 24.

Another consideration is the European Championships in Munich which are scheduled for between August 16 and 21.

"From what I have heard from people, this is on their radar and this is in their plan, depending on what event," said Sotherton, who won heptathlon gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and is England's athletics team leader for 2022.

"Some people might do different events in Eugene to what they might do here.

"But there is a lot of people who want to do this event.

"The team is going to be full of superstars on the Para-athletics side as well as the athletics side.

"The team is going to be one of the strongest teams we've ever produced for England, and it will be the same for the other home countries.

"Scotland will have a very strong team, Wales are going to have a strong team, Northern Ireland are going to have a strong team.

"They might not be as big but the depth of athletes for Great Britain is going to be strong."

The World Championships were due to take place last year, but were moved into 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a 12-month delay to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event in England since the London 2012 Olympics, which is an obvious draw for home athletes.

Stars host nation fans will want to see include Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the respective reigning world champions in the 200 metres and heptathlon. 

"You are crazy if you don't want to do the Birmingham Commonwealth Games," said Sotherton, who boasts three Olympic bronze medals and was speaking to insidethegames on the event's new track here.

"It's just managing their time.

"They've known this now for nearly two years.

"So it's coaches managing training appropriately to fit the summer.

"As an athlete I do understand the World Champs does come high, but a home Games in Birmingham is just as high on the agenda.

"I'm sure we'd have been the number one event if the World Champs wasn't there, but you have to deal with what's been given.

"I do know that the Commonwealth Games is on the top of most people's agendas, our big guns...

"I expect a really strong, competitive, high performing team in the summer." 

Sotherton, a member of Birmingham club Birchfield Harriers, knows what competing at a home Commonwealth Games is like having featured at Manchester 2002.

Birmingham organisers say they have been in regular contact with Oregon, and have designed their athletics programme in partnership with World Athletics.

They believe this will leave an appropriate gap between specific events for athletes who want to compete in both competitions.

Ashia Hansen, who won back-to-back triple jump golds for England at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as two world indoor titles, also believes athletes will be able to manage the tight schedule.

She won the European title in 2002, just days after her Commonwealth win.

"I don't think it will be much of a challenge," said Hansen, another member of Birchfield Harriers, to insidethegames.

"If they time it right, they can pretty much peak between the two.

"In 2002, I competed at the European and the Commonwealth Games and I think it was a 10-day difference between the competitions.

"And I still managed to peak about the right time.

"It's just about manipulating the training to suit, so they can peak for both of them."