Illness puts a spoke in Euro bid for Atkins

CYCLING: It was not to be for in-form Kenilworth Cyclo Cross star Darren Atkins who was representing Team Jewson at the European Championships in Belgium.

Atkins went down ill following his latest Covid injection, days before he was due to leave. Nevertheless Atkins performed brilliantly considering his preparation and finished a creditable seventh.

Darren’s team-mate and former World Masters champion, Phil Roach, didn’t have the best of luck either as he crashed heavily halfway through the race eventually finishing down in 25th place.

It was a different story for Pete Smith (above) who finished second in the 4 Day Tour of Mallorca for veteran riders before winning the European Masters Road Race Championships the following day.

FOOTBALL: Southampton have moved quickly to replace manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and have been given permission by Luton to speak to Nathan Jones.

Hasenhuttl was sacked by Saints yesterday morning after almost four years in charge following their poor recent run of results.

Southampton slipped into the relegation zone following Sunday’s 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle and the club see Jones, 49, as the man to help them climb back out.

Luton travel to Stoke tonight and will allow Saints to speak to their manager after the match.

FOOTBALL: Last season’s Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Liverpool have been paired together in this season’s last 16.

The Reds finished runners-up in their group behind Napoli and will host the reigning European and Laliga champions at Anfield in February.

Real beat the Reds 1-0 in the 2022 final in Paris in May, a match marred by organisational chaos which led to the kick-off being delayed.

Premier League champions and 2021 Champions League finalists Manchester City have been drawn to face German side RB Leipzig – fourth in last season’s Bundesliga.