HUMPHRIES TARGETS TOP FOUR TO KEEP DOUBLE DREAM ALIVE

By Phil Lanning

LUKE HUMPHRIES wants to force his way into the top four to keep alive his Premier League and FA Cup double dream with Leeds.

The defending champion has had a low-key campaign so far and is surprisingly sixth in the table but only two points off a play-off place. 

He faces Jonny Clayton in Brighton on Thursday night aiming to kick start his season off with a first nightly win – and get some inspiration from Leeds’ FA Cup glory at West Ham.

Humphries, 31, said: “Taking football away from it to make that top four is something I really want to do. 

“I don’t want to not defend my crown at the O2. I don’t want to have lost it before being there. 

“I’m going to go to Wembley for the semi-final, hopefully I can sort out some tickets. It will be a good experience to see my football team in a major semi-final of a big cup.”

Humphries admits that parading the World Championship trophy at Elland Road after winning the title was one of the best moments of his life. 

He added: “That was one of the most magical days of my life to be fair. 

“Obviously my son being born was No.1, winning the World Championship No.2. But that was really up there. Such a great experience.

“I always dreamed of being a dart player but also dreamed of playing a football game at Elland Road. Next best thing was parading the trophy there. The respect and admiration from all the fans was just amazing. 

“I’d love to do it again and take that trophy round again and experience it once more. It’s a feeling that really does live with you.”

Humphries also had some sympathy for his pal and rival Luke Littler after his spat with Gian van Veen – and played down any after effects.

He said: “It comes with the territory. You’ve seen it many times over the years. Players have done it here and there. Sometimes you do things and you think ‘oh god I wish I hadn’t done that now’. But you’re in it.

“It’s hot news right now. In two weeks it will all be forgotten, no one will remember it and we’ll all move on. 

“I don’t think it’s necessary for the game. There’s nothing wrong with it sometimes. It’s not something us players want to encourage. If it happens, it happens.”

Cool Hand won his last clash with Clayton to win a recent Euro tour and knows he has to pick up points in Brighton. 

It’s a venue which saw him win his first ever Premier League night and hit a nine-darter. 

He added: “It’s a game I probably really have to win, it’s probably getting to that point of no return when you can’t be losing the first round games. 

“You can’t leave it too late. I don’t have to win nights just winning that first game and try and win one night at least. 

“I’ve got to try and creep myself in there to be honest. A big game for myself and we’ll see how it goes. 

“To be honest I’m probably averaging more than I did in 2024 and 2025. No one can say I’m not playing good enough. Probably my timing’s not been as good. 

“The last four weeks have been tough but that’s darts and that’s sport. You just have to get on with it and try harder. 

“Brighton has held some good memories for myself. Maybe it’s should look back on and try and gain some inspiration. Hopefully tomorrow night is a good night for myself. Winning the night would be crucial because it would put me in that top four.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.