"The most important thing for me is to come back and to be back on a good level," he said.

"I would like to compete at the Commonwealth Games; that gold medal is still missing in my collection.

"And then the focus will switch to next year's World Championships.

"I hope I can finish the season on a high."

Kenya's Olympic champion was unable to defend his world title in Moscow last year because of a knee injury he first became aware of while winning the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League meeting in New York on May 25 - his last competitive race.

The 25-year-old from Kilgoris was due to make his competitive return on May 9 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha, but had to pull out a week beforehand because of a calf injury.

It has now been announced that he will take part in the 800m at the next Diamond League meeting - in Eugene, Oregon - on May 31.

David Rudisha en route to victory at last year's 800m in the IAAF Diamond League meeting at Doha, with his main rival, Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia, at his left shoulder. Rudisha plans to return after a year's absence with injury to race at the Eugene Diamond League meeting on May 31 ©Getty Images

Speaking to the IAAF, Rudisha - who had keyhole surgery on his knee in Germany last October and was only able to start running in March - described the difficulties he had faced during his enforced break:

"It is psychologically very tough, especially when you are used to dedicating most of your time to the sport you love," he said.

"Your work is training.

"But now you are not healthy enough to go out there and train.

"And to make things worse, you see the others training and competing.

"You feel miserable, somehow helpless.

"You never know how long it will take and if you will ever be back at the same level you were before.

"The knee joint is a very complicated mechanism.

"I had to accept the situation and learn to be patient."

Among others who have been able to train and compete are the London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana, who has himself returned recently from a year off because of injury, and his 20-year-old contemporary Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia, the only runner to have beaten Rudisha in the last four years, who won the world title in the Kenyan's absence last summer.

"I'm happy with the way they have tried to follow in my footsteps," Rudisha said.

"Nevertheless, without being arrogant, I think when I am in good shape, I am still the one they have to consider.

"Whenever I am in the race, they are watching me.

"I am looking forward challenging them in Eugene."

About a fast time possibility in 2014, he added: "Maybe at the end of August in Zurich.

"I love that event and the public there.

"In 2012, I didn't do well; I was too tired after the Olympics. I hope it will be different this time.

"But let's be clear: only after my first few races will we know where we are heading to.

"I have to move step by step. It is a slow process and there is no shortcut."

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Related 2014
May 2014: Rudisha's Doha Diamond League comeback off as pulls out with calf injury
July 2013: Question mark remains over Rutherford as Rudisha and Blake pull out of World Athletics Championships
May 2013: Rudisha one of 11 world-leading athletes as 2013 IAAF Diamond League gets flying start in Doha
August 2012: Bolt announces "legend" status after completing sprint double while Rudisha is simply "extraordinary"