Colin Lloyd foretells Michael van Gerwen return to form

Does Colin Lloyd believe that Michael van Gerwen's recent form is cause for concern?

"Not at all. No, no, no."

The former world number one's belief in the current PDC top dog remains unwavering, despite recent failures. Van Gerwen hoovered up titles at the start of 2019 but has since seen his fortunes take a turn. That culminated in an early exit to the hands of Glen Durrant at the World Matchplay. Former Matchplay champion Lloyd doesn't ascribe the world champion's form to any serious issue.

"Everyone's entitled to have a little blip," Lloyd said while making a guest appearance on the Darts Show Podcast.

"I'm not even going to say that he's lost focus. He just hasn't turned up the last few matches.

"Michael knows that, and he'll address that."

Below average

A measure of concerns over Mighty Mike's form is the lack of big averages. The usually heavy-scoring Dutchman has gone on a significant run of low-scoring games, where his three-dart average hasn't troubled the 100 mark. Considering that neither of the two majors this year were won with a three-figure average in the final, Lloyd reckons that the numbers don't tell the whole story.

"So what? Not everyone wins a match with a 100 average.

"People put far too much [stock] in averages.

"I'd like to come through a match and win it 13-11, with an 86 average. I don't care, you can put it right the very next game," asserted Lloyd.

No worries

Van Gerwen will look at the World Series and the European Tour to build form over the next month or so. He recently confirmed that the Players Championship won't be part of his plans. The remaining big TV events, starting with the World Grand Prix in Dublin, are on the horizon. Lloyd is sure that the Green Machine will be motoring again before long, mirroring Wayne Mardle's sentiments.

"I don't think there's any concern for MVG at the minute.

"I think he'll come back better and stronger. He'll know that he hasn't done the business of late, and I think that will aggravate him a little bit," said Lloyd.

"But he's a class enough player - he's world number one! And, to me, world number one - you have to be winning.

"Which he is, he's a winner. So I wouldn't concern myself about that too much."