HUMPHRIES RUNNING OUT OF TIME IN PREMIER LEAGUE RACE

LUKE HUMPHRIES is running out of time to save his Premier League season as concerns grow something is “slightly off”.

The world No.2 is in danger of missing out on the play-offs after dropping to seventh in the table, still without a single nightly win after ten weeks of action. 

Cool Hand has not won a match since week seven and now trails fourth-placed Michael van Gerwen by five points, leaving his O2 hopes hanging by a thread. 

His latest blow came in Brighton, where he was edged out 6-5 by Jonny Clayton, who nailed a bullseye in a dramatic last-leg decider. 

Commentator Chris Murphy admits there are signs that something is not quite right in Humphries’ game.

He told the Love the Darts podcast: “I don’t know what the problem is because something does seem slightly off.

“But out of all the players that are out of the play-offs at the moment I would say he’s the one who could go on and win back-to-back nights and catapult himself into those places. 

“I don’t think it’s complete panic stations yet but he is running out of time and does need to get that nightly win.

“It’s not just about winning matches for him. He needs to win nights to get through.” 

Pundit Michael Bridge also suggested Humphries may no longer feel the same pressure as before, pointing to his life away from darts. 

He added: “Luke isn’t running away with things anymore. He’s getting his life back a bit because he’s going to Aintree and Cheltenham, so I don’t think things are getting to him like they used to.

“He’ll try and go on a run now, but I don’t think he’ll be devastated if he doesn’t make the top four. Not like it would a couple of years ago.

“It would have hurt him losing in Brighton, but I don’t think it will devastate him.” 

The Cheshire thrower will next face Gian van Veen in Rotterdam on Thursday, as he looks to build momentum and push towards the play-off places.

Image by Taylor Lanning.