SMITH “HAS POINT TO PROVE”

MICHAEL SMITH has vowed he has “a point to prove” as Luke Littler steals the darting world limelight. 

The former World Champion finally knocked the Warrington wonderkid out of the headlines after beating him in the Premier League semi-finals a week ago. 

Smith, 33, was delighted to show that he’s still a big hitter by winning opening night in Cardiff. Now he wants more glory in Berlin tonight (Thursday).

He added: “I checked the odds before the Premier League started to see what the bookies were thinking. I think I was down to 10-1. I saw Nathan was behind me at 25.

“I said to Nathan, I’ve got a point to prove now. I’m not going to be favourite for most of the matches like I used to be. 

“Just got to get my head down and do things properly.

“It would be nice to go back-to-back in Germany. That would be decent. 

“Last year I did three-in-a-row. I hope I can repeat that or do four-in-a-row which no one has ever done. 

“It’s all about confidence. I didn’t play well at the weekend in Milton Keynes. The Premier League is a different matter.” 

‘Bully Boy’ beat 17-year-old Littler in last week’s last four on the way to victory over Gerwyn Price in the final. He believes that Littler will last the pace in the gruelling league schedule. 

He added: “I knew he was flying but I thought he would have stayed a bit longer in the WDF. 

“He’s always been good. I’ve seen some of his games online, 100 plus averages. It was the same when Leighton (Bennett) was younger. 

“But Luke has proved it over the past four or five weeks that he’s got what it takes. 

“He’s had no pressure whatsoever, he’s fresh and has got the right people behind him. He gets to go up there and have fun, he’s got no kids at home like Nathan and I have!

“It’s up to him to make the most of it now for his career as quick as possible before he does get older and settles down, missus and kids. He’s done pretty well for himself so far.”

Smith would love to show Harry Kane how to win in Germany before the Euros this summer.

He said: “I’d love to say that he will lift the Euros trophy in Germany and we are going to do it easy. 

“But England are a bit like myself, they never do anything the easy way!

“Of course England can win the Euros. We just need Marcus Rashford to start scoring again. 

“It’s whether Kane is ever destined to win a trophy. He’s left Tottenham in search of going to the best team in Germany. 

“They’ve lost two cups and now behind Leverkusen in the league. He’s good for the golden boot.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.