5 talking points surrounding British stars at the European Championships

After a transitional World Championships and Commonwealth Games, Press Association Sport looks at the talking points surrounding the British stars.

Can KJT make it a hat-trick of titles?

Katarina Johnson-Thompson faces a tall order to win her third gold of the year. (Paul Harding/PA)

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has the World Indoor pentathlon crown and Commonwealth heptathlon victory in the bag this year. But the standard of those two competitions cannot compare to the European field she will face next week, meaning she will need the performance of her career to make it a third victory. She will face Olympic and world champion Nafi Thiam for the first time this year while Caroline Schafer and Anouk Vetter – who complete the world’s top three – are also due to compete. Such is the step up in quality, if KJT can reach the podium in Berlin it will be worth more than her two gold medals.

Will Zharnel Hughes live up to the billing?

Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes will be favourite for the 100m title. (John Walton/PA)

The 23-year-old is favourite for the 100m title ahead of British team-mates Reece Prescod and CJ Ujah. The pair opted to miss the 100m in the London Diamond League meet two weeks ago as Hughes ran 9.93 seconds to finish behind the USA’s Ronnie Baker. Hughes, who trains under Usain Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills, has a personal best of 9.91s which he set in June. He was disqualified for obstruction after winning the 200m at the Commonwealth Games and is in good shape for a maiden major individual title in Berlin.

Can Laura Muir land her maiden outdoor title?

Great Britain’s Laura Muir is hunting her first major outdoor title. (John Walton/PA)

Over the next few years Muir will be expected to eclipse her achievement from her young career, such is the spotlight on the 25-year-old. She has been training at altitude in St Moritz having graduated from her veterinary degree  from the University of Glasgow. The Scot, a double European Indoor champion, has enjoyed a relaxed build-up away from the spotlight having also come second in the 1500m in three Diamond League meetings. She has opted to run in the 1500m after pulling out of the 800m selection due to an inflamed Achilles and will be expected to win with Sifan Hassan only racing in the 5000m.

Can Andy Pozzi rediscover his form?

Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi failed to finish the 110m hurdles at the World Cup last month. (Mark Kerton/PA)

The world and European Indoor 60m hurdles champion has flopped in the outdoor season. Favourite for the Commonwealth Games title he hit the first hurdle and eventually finished sixth. Seventh and eighth at the Eugene Diamond League and IAAF World Challenge Meeting respectively came before a DNF at the World Cup in July. The likeable Pozzi came fourth at the Anniversary Games and can be the best in Berlin but he needs to recapture the form which took him to the world indoor title in March.

Is it a straight shoot-out between Dina Asher-Smith and Dafne Schippers?

Dina Asher-Smith is looking to defend her European 200m title. (Martin Rickett/PA)

Defending champion Asher-Smith can be considered favourite to retain her 200m crown. A slightly disappointing fifth in the London Diamond League last month still saw her finish ahead of Dutch rival Schippers, the reigning world champion, who came seventh. That is potentially enough to give Asher-Smith the edge in the odds but she has also been in fine form, winning in Stockholm and coming second in Oslo Diamond League meets, despite finishing sixth in Eugene. The 22-year-old came fourth in the world last year – behind winner Schippers – after recovering from a broken foot and has demonstrated title-winning potential again.