Aspinall on excellent Premier League form heading into fan return: "I love proving people wrong"

The final of the Premier League will take shape over the next week with Nathan Aspinall currently in second place and in a good position for the play-offs.

Aspinall spoke before Monday's restart about how he watched an Aberdeen repeat and that its surreal to see fans in an arena which will occur next week in Milton Keynes.

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"I remember me and Kirsty (his partner) sat down to watch telly and I was just looking through what sport was on and Aberdeen was on. I'm not lying I was bricking it, I was watching it and knew the result but I was dead nervous because you couldn't imagine walking out in front of that anymore, it's surreal," said Aspinall to Weekly Dartscast.

On his return to form during the Premier League, he admitted the worries were there pre tournament but that those were soon diminished and that the swagger was soon back.

"I didn't have the best of years last year and obviously there was no crowd so I was a bit worried I wouldn't take to it because I hadn't been playing well on TV and you don't really get a minutes peace in the Premier League, you have to be at it from dart one."

"To be fair, I played really well and I felt like I was getting back to how I used to be pre-lockdown, a little bit of bounce on stage, a bit of swagger, a little bit of adrenaline and I was dead chuffed."

Proving doubters wrong

He has also had extra motivation during this year's tournament with fans writing him off and saying he was going to get eliminated and he discussed the feeling of proving the doubters wrong.

"I love proving people wrong, I've been written off all my life. I love coming out the other side of it going I told you I was good enough or stick two fingers up, that's what drives me on to perform well in anything I do," he continued.

"I understand why people thought I was getting eliminated but going into the tournament, I had back-to-back semi-finals and I was like really. Hopefully those guys have put bets on and they've all lost."

Return of fans

Finally, like alluded to the fans will return from Monday and he like many share the sentiment that he has missed them more than anyone due to his playing style.

"I think me more than anyone has missed them. I'm still new into my career, obviously Michael (van Gerwen) and James (Wade), the people who have been around a lot longer probably don't get the buzz I get even on the walk on. That first night especially because I'm playing Michael as well is going to be very special. Hopefully I won't need to keep drinking cans of Red Bull, hopefully I will have enough adrenaline."