DANNY Talbot’s coach is adamant that he stands a great chance of being selected for the heats of the Olympics 4x100m relay tonight (7.45pm), writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 21-year-old Trowbridge Tornado moved into the village at the end of last week after two weeks at the Great Britain holding camp in Portugal and according to coach Dan Cossins he is flying.

“Training went really well in Portugal and the feedback I have got is that his change-overs in relay practice have been the fastest in the group,” said Cosssins.

“Whether that will be the criteria by which they pick the team for the relay I don’t know. Obviously the 100m guys look in good shape as they all reached the semi finals so I guess it depends on what our 200m sprinters do.

“They haven’t been in terrific form but maybe competing in the Olympics will bring out the best in them.”

Talbot is in form after winning the silver medal in the 200m at the European Championships in Helsinki last month.

“It will be disappointing for Danny if he doesn’t get a run considering how well he raced in the Europeans and since and while I might be biased, in my opinion, he deserves to be in the team on form,” added Cossins.

“It will be interesting to see what happens and I really hope he gets a run in the team in the heats.

“But no matter what, I know he is enjoying the experience as a whole and it is great for him in his development as a senior international athlete.

“I think if someone had said at the start of the season he would win a bronze medal at the European Championships and get picked for the relay team to go to the Olympics then we would have bitten their hands off.

“London was always going to be stepping stone for Danny and was never the main plan as we look towards the Worlds next year and the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

“I know Danny hasn’t yet shown the times he is capable of, which is due to the injuries that held him back at the start of the season.

“But he is in superb shape and after the Olympics we will be looking to find him two or three high-quality races in which he will have the chance to run very fast.

“I’m convinced he can go 20.3scs for 200m and maybe even 10.1secs for 100m if the race and conditions are right.”

Talbot narrowly missed out on a place in the individual 200m, in which British trials winner James Ellington crashed out in the first round on Tuesday.

“People like Danny Talbot were in really great shape and I feel like I’ve taken someone’s place and let the team down,’’ said a despondent Ellington.