Sotherton congratulates Ennis after the 200m

Olympic champion Kluft took a clear lead after France's Eunice Barber was forced to withdraw from the competition with an injury to her left thigh.

But personal bests from Sotherton in the 110m hurdles, shot put and 200m kept her own hopes alive.

Sotherton said: "I just hope that maybe two of us Brits can get on the podium."

European athletics highlights: Heptathlon day one

Ennis, the 20-year-old student from Sheffield, produced personal bests in both the shot and 200m to go into the final three events with a genuine chance of a shock medal.

STANDINGS AFTER FOUR EVENTS Kluft 3990 Sotherton 3866 Ennis 3861

Ennis said: "I didn't expect for one minute to be as high as I am after day one, so it gives me a lot of confidence going into Tuesday.

"It's great to know that I can handle myself and do well in this sort of company."

Ukraine's Nataliya Dobrynska and Holland's Karin Ruckstuhl from Holland are both close on Ennis's heels.

Partisan crowd

Kluft, the darling of the Gothenburg crowd, had been in tears on the warm-up track at the start of the day.

Barber's withdrawal opened up the whole competition but Kluft's preparations had also been hampered by a sore hamstring.

She worried the partisan crowd by managing only the fifth-fastest time in the 100m hurdles.

Now Barber's out, there's more chance of a silver for me Kelly Sotherton

She fought back in the high jump, punching the air after clearing 1.89 metres at her first attempt.

Barber, who clocked the best time of 13.11 seconds in the hurdles, also cleared that height, only to then succumb to injury.

Kluft said: "The 200m was a big disappointment, but my hamstring was still bothering me - I was too tense and it was very bad for me.

"In the morning I felt really bad, but when I came in and heard the crowd I just tried to do my best.

"I don't see it as a blessing that Eunice is out - it's not good for the competition and for the crowd."

Sotherton had herself been struggling with a back injury in the build-up to the championships.

But a gutsy display in the final event of the day, the 200m, put her right back in the reckoning.

She said: "Now Barber's out, there's more chance of a silver for me.

"My back held me up in the high jump but it was OK after that."