difficult to find 1st and reverse gear first thing in morning

[Lemur]

I have a 63 plate Superb 2.0 TDi 140. For the past few days, it has been very difficult to get the car into gear, especially 1st or reverse when setting off first thing in the morning. There is also a smell from the engine compartment. After driving for 15 minutes or so, the gears can be selected normally. This issue coincided with the current and recommended gear numbers no longer being displayed on the dashboard.

[chimaera]

Manual or DSG?

[Lemur]

manual