Keely Hodgkinson and expected gold medal rivals Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol remain on course for their highly anticipated showdown after safely reaching Thursday’s women’s 800m semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships.

Olympic champion Hodgkinson, winner of the past two European titles, controlled her heat throughout to win in one minute 57.28 seconds – the fastest time across the four heats on Tuesday morning.

Swiss athlete Werro, who stunned Hodgkinson by running the fastest time for 43 years to beat the Briton earlier this season, appeared equally comfortable as she won her race in 1:57.83.

There were no issues either for Femke Broeders-Bol. The fast-improving Dutch two-time world 400m hurdles champion, who chose to switch events this season, crossed the line first in 1:59.96.

Hodgkinson’s post-race interview with BBC Sport was briefly interrupted by Italy’s Eloisa Coiro, who said the 24-year-old was “an inspiration on and off the track”.

Hodgkinson, who has had a couple of setbacks during her outdoor campaign, said: “I have worked so hard and the shape has been there all year. It’s just been an unfortunate couple of events that have led to me maybe being a little bit off.

“Championships are a fresh start. That felt very good, very comfortable. The standard has gone up but it’s good, it brings out the best in me.

“All it takes is one person to raise the bar and you think more things are possible. Everyone knows that to keep up you have to keep getting better. It’s a really exciting time for the women’s 800m.”

Youssef Chermiti faces a long recovery from anterior cruciate ligament damage sustained shortly after Rangers turned down an offer for the striker.

The 22-year-old Portuguese was injured during Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian as he collided with advertising boards following a jarring challenge.

A club announcement via social media states Chermiti “will be out of action for a significant period of time”.

He moved to Ibrox from Everton in September 2025, reportedly becoming Rangers’ most expensive purchase since Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Capped at under-21 level by Portugal, the centre forward has made 43 Rangers appearances, 30 of them starts, scoring 15 goals.

Asked about reports that Turkish champions Galatasaray had made an approach for Chermiti, Rangers manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland prior to kick-off: “I’m led to believe the club’s valuation of the player hasn’t been met.

“It’s no surprise that he’s a player who’s got a big (price) tag on him and he’s got high potential, but thankfully he’s our player and that will continue to be the case.

“We’re trying to build a team here at the minute and we’re trying to still bring additions to the team that helps us add to the good players that we’ve got, including Youssef.

“So it’s not something we would encourage at any point.”

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish contacted Dwight McNeil’s partner before the midfielder’s move to the club on Tuesday.

McNeil has completed a move to Palace and signed a four-year contract in a swap deal that involved Brennan Johnson moving to Everton.

McNeil, 26, nearly moved to Selhurst Park in the January transfer window when Palace agreed a loan-to-buy deal.

That deal would have turned into a £20m permanent move, only for the transfer to fall through when the required paperwork could not be completed in time, even though McNeil had already passed a medical.

After the deal fell through, McNeil’s partner Megan Sharpley was critical of Palace, writing on Instagram: “We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is.

“So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s OK to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job?

“To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster and to be toyed with until the final minute. For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation has hurt more than I can say.”

BBC Sport understands that Parish reached out to smooth things over before this week’s deal was completed.

McNeil joined Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022 and scored 15 goals in 128 games for the Toffees.

Palace have won the FA Cup, Community Shield and Uefa Conference League in the last two seasons.

“The lads have had some great success over the last two seasons. It’s something that I want to be a part of, so I’m really looking forward to getting started,” McNeil said.

Parish said McNeil is “a player with proven ability in the Premier League”.

Johnson signed for Palace in a £35m deal in January but struggled to find form and made 26 appearances in all competitions without scoring.

The Wales winger joined Tottenham Hotspur from Nottingham Forest for a fee in excess of £45m in 2023 and scored their winning goal in the Europa League final last May before moving to the Eagles.