HUMPHRIES HAILS SURREAL MOMENT WITH NEVILLE, WRIGHT AND VIEIRA ON ITV WORLD CUP COVERAGE

LUKE HUMPHRIES admits it is "surreal" to find himself rubbing shoulders with football legends after darts' explosion in popularity.

The world No.2 and world No.1 Luke Littler were special guests on ITV's World Cup coverage in New York on Wednesday ahead of joint-host nation Canada's clash with Switzerland.

Littler, 19, teamed up with lead presenter Laura Woods in a darts challenge, while Humphries was paired with former Everton hardman Duncan Ferguson.

Football icons Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira were also in the studio as darts continued its march into the mainstream.

Humphries said: "It's a great position to be in for the sport because when you're getting invited to things like [ITV's FIFA World Cup coverage] it's kind of surreal.

"When we are there we play it cool and are like this is where we should be. But it is kind of surreal.

"You're looking over and there's amazing people you know, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright and all these superstars of the footballing world.

"Ian Wright was shouting mine and Luke's name out. He was going 'Lukes, Lukes'.

"He knows all about it and knows us which is surreal.

"It is really good we get to go on there and talk about what we do. I think Laura Woods stole the show with the treble 20.

"It is great we get to do these crazy things which we never would have dreamed of five years ago which just shows where the sport is at."

Cool Hand was back to business on the oche on Thursday night as he began the defence of his US Darts Masters title.

The Cheshire thrower cruised past Leonard Gates 6-1 with an average of almost 92 to book a quarter-final clash against Stephen Bunting.

The victory continued a remarkable run of form for Humphries, who heads into next month's World Matchplay having reached EIGHT consecutive finals and helped England win the World Cup of Darts.

Humphries is also determined to avoid a repeat of last year's disappointing World Matchplay campaign after crashing out in the first round just months after lifting the title in 2024.

He added: "I thought I got it all wrong last year. I can't remember what I did but I remember not practicing very much.

"I think I remember not practicing very much and taking it all for granted a little bit and I think I fell away a little bit.

"When it comes to the Matchplay obviously, I've learned my lesson from last year.

"The one or two weeks before with the run-in, I'll make sure that there is no days off, I'm on the board practicing and dedicating."

Words: Aaron Nijjar