"He’s not a darts player, he’s a celebrity" - Nathan Aspinall attempting to help guide Luke Littler with advice and support

Nathan Aspinall has a lot of admiration for Premier League Darts rival Luke Littler. Even offstage, he gets along well with his 17-year-old compatriot.

"Off stage I’m working with Luke to try and help him - the rest of the lads probably don’t want to hear that because if you add my mental strength to his ability, we’re all in trouble. But what he’s doing for the sport, as a 17-year-old, is incredible," Aspinall told the Daily Star.

Aspinall sees that Littler has transcended the sport of darts. "Forget about his darts - he’s not a darts player, he’s a celebrity. I’m a darts player, he’s a celebrity - and that’s the difference. The BBC have never cared about darts, but on Wednesday Luke and I were there (in Salford) for five hours," Aspinall says. "That isn’t because of me or Michael van Gerwen - it’s because of Luke Littler. He is helping out the rest of the boys as much of himself by projecting our sport to a whole new level.”

Littler remains humble in the face of all those fine words from Aspinall. "Maybe if you look at my following on social media, I might be classed as a celebrity. But I’m just a lad doing what he does best. Am I (a celebrity)? I don’t know. I’m just a dart player. I just get on with it, whatever comes my way," the teen responds. "Do I pinch myself? I try to live my life as I have done. Travelling every Wednesday, playing these guys I’ve been looking up to in the Premier League… I just thrive off it. It gets me pumped up for it.”