Max Whitlock believes the hard work will pay off for Kent gymnasts Giarnni Regini-Moran and James Hall at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool.

Three-time world champion Whitlock won’t be competing at this year’s event after a year out following the Tokyo Olympics but is looking forward to watching the next generation of British gymnasts compete against the world’s very best.

Gravesend's Regini-Moran and Hall, from Maidstone, are part of the the GB squad who begin their team campaign on Monday. Both enjoyed successful summers, earning team gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships, while Regini-Moran also earned two silvers and a bronze in Birmingham, and Hall a silver.

The pair now head to Liverpool to take on the world, with the likes of Japan and China among the competition, but Whitlock believes there is a good chance of British success thanks to their hard yards in training.

“They are grafters,” said Whitlock, who will watch Great Britain’s new generation of gymnasts from the press box at the M&S Bank Arena.

“They’re obviously talented at what they do but they work so hard.

“These gymnasts are in the gym so many hours a week, dedicated, committed. They have their goals, they have their ambitions, and work towards them.

“It’s not rocket science, they know what they want to do and they are working hard towards it.

“They all have massive potential to come out with medals, I’m not afraid to say that. But it’s all about what happens on the day.”

Whitlock decided he needed a break from gymnastics following the successful defence his Olympic pommel horse gold medal in Tokyo last summer and is taking a year out.

However, he nearly quit altogether after feeling “completely lost” but is now back in love with the sport and is the wise old head among a new generation that saw success at two major competitions this summer.

The triple Olympic champion admits he can’t wait to get back in among the team dynamic, but is looking forward to watching from afar with the belief that good old-fashioned team spirit will go a long way in Liverpool.

“Everyone’s got their individual strengths,” added Whitlock.

“In one sense we are the strongest that we have ever been but the more gymnasts coming through and gaining results, I think it is incredible.

“I don’t really look at it in terms of taking something away from me because as a team we are a good group of mates, Tokyo was proof of that.

"We were a four-man team going out there and we glued together so well.

“I don’t think any of us had that leadership role, we don’t even label a team captain anymore, everyone is just an individual coming together as a team. We can take learning experiences from each of us.

“Some of the guys ask me about previous experiences, such as trying to do three majors in one year, so they can learn from my experience, but it is the same the other way around.

“When we come together, we glue really well and support each other but also, we just muck about together.

“They are big competitions, they hold a lot of weight, but they are important to be fun and enjoyed along the way.”

Gravesend's Georgia-Mae Fenton helped GB's ladies through to Tuesday's team final.

Fenton, along with Alice Kinsella, Ondine Achampong, Jessica Gadirova and Jennifer Gadirova, guided GB to second place in Sunday's qualifying with 164.595 points.

The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. Over 500 gymnasts from more than 70 countries will compete at the M&S Bank Arena from 29 October to 6 November 2022. Tickets are available at www.2022worldgymnastics.com/tickets