PART BACKS SPAIN TO TROUBLE ENGLAND IN WORLD CUP

JOHN PART believes Spain could “trouble” England when the sides meet in the second round of the World Cup.

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries head into the contest as overwhelming favourites as they look to avoid a repeat of last year’s shock exit to Germany at the same stage.

Cristo Reyes produced a sensational 145 checkout on the bull to seal a 4-3 victory over Japan and send his nation through from Group K.

The Spartan is enjoying a resurgence this season after reaching the quarter-finals of both the Austrian Darts Open and Players Championship 19.

Former world champion Part believes Reyes could pose a real threat to the Lethal Lukes, with the Spaniard arriving in strong form and benefiting from having already played competitively in Frankfurt over the past two days.

He said: “He was absent from the game for a while. He has come back and looks like he hasn’t missed a beat.

“He looks so cool and can just get into that mood where there is no panic.

“If they can just live with some scoring and produce their own scoring — Spain, that is — you never know. I think they might just trouble England a bit.

“I think there is a certain advantage to playing in the group stage if you survive.”

World No77 Reyes lost his Tour Card in 2021 but earned an immediate return to the PDC circuit after coming through Q School earlier this year.

The 38-year-old has gone from strength to strength since and is now targeting a first-ever World Cup quarter-final on his sixth appearance in the tournament.