Rachel Riley scores new Friday Night Football presenting job on Sky Sports

Rachel Riley has scored another top-notch television job as she is set to present Sky Sports programme, Friday Night Football.

The mathematician and television presenter will be reunited with former Countdown co-host Jeff Stelling for the upcoming season alongside fellow hosts Paul Merson and Max Rushden.

Riley, 30, will join former Manchester United defender Gary Neville for the new Premier League season coverage on the television network after he tried his hand at management with Valencia for four months. He also played a part in England's catastrophic performance at Euro 2016, where they were defeated by Iceland, as a coach.

The 41-year-old rejoins a punditry team including Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp, Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness.

Gary Hughes, head of football for Sky Sports, said: "It's Sky Sports' biggest ever Premier League season and our viewers can enjoy the best matches, the best analysis and the best shows.

"Following Leicester City's incredible triumph, we all know anything can happen this season and Sky Sports viewers can watch all the stories unfold at both ends of the table from next month through to May," he added.

Alluring presenter Riley – who left her husband Jamie Gilbert for her Strictly Come Dancing partner Pasha Kovalev in 2014 – is expected to go down a treat with viewers after her successful stint on the Channel 4 game show Countdown. Known for her tight dresses, blonde hair and trademark gleaming smile, Riley will no doubt cause a stir on Friday Night Football as she helps cover 10 live Premier League matches. And it won't hurt her relationship with Neville that she's a Manchester United fan.

One male Twitter commenter: "Rachel Riley joining Sky to co-host with Jeff – ideal!" while another said: "Best transfer of the summer @RachelRileyRR joins Sky Sports!! Fridays have picked up."

She will co-host the Friday-night matches with Stelling along with star guests, reuniting the duo who presented Countdown together from 2009 to 2011 after Carol Vorderman stepped down.

United's home match against Southampton will be the first game to be screened live on a Friday evening on 19 August. Sky will screen 126 live matches this season as part of the new £5.136bn ($6.7bn) television deal they share with BT Sport. They will show matches on Friday night, Saturday at 12.45pm, Sunday afternoon and Monday night.