MARDLE FEARS FOR MVG IN PREMIER LEAGUE

WAYNE MARDLE has raised concerns over Michael van Gerwen ahead of the new Premier League season.

World No.4 Van Gerwen failed to claim a single night win in last year’s Premier League and missed the play-offs for the first time since 2020.

‘Mighty Mike’ also suffered a first round exit at the World Masters after losing 3-1 to Damon Heta last week.

Former pro Mardle admitted the Dutchman’s recent dip in form is becoming hard to ignore.

He said: “I’m kind of concerned about, in a way, Michael van Gerwen. I’m not sure how he’s going to do.

“He didn’t make the play-offs last year for the first time in a long time. He’s now not as much of a winner as he used to be.

“He’s still very much someone that needs to be in the forefront of everyone’s mind because he can win anything.

“But there seems to be just a new breed, with [Luke] Littler, [Luke] Humphries and [Gian] Van Veen.

“You’ve got the old and the new and Van Gerwen being the elder statesman now in terms of experience and everything will want to hit the ground running.

“In 2024, he won four weeks of the Premier League. Last year he didn’t win any. He’s got to put that right. There’s pressure on him.”

MVG is no longer the Netherlands’ No.1 for the first time in 13 years, having been overtaken by Van Veen.

Van Gerwen begins his Premier League campaign this Thursday in Newcastle when he takes on Stephen Bunting.

Image by Taylor Lanning.