"I worry for Michael Smith - You start making excuses before you've thrown a dart" – Colin Lloyd fears injury concerns could end former world champion's career

Colin Lloyd has voiced concern over the future of Michael Smith’s career, warning that persistent injuries could derail the former world champion if they are not properly addressed.

Smith, who lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2023, has struggled with form and fitness in 2024 and 2025 and as such finds himself in the unfamiliar position of battling outside the upper echelons of the PDC Order of Merit. Speaking to Online Darts, Lloyd admitted he fears the nagging issues with Smith’s throwing arm may already be playing tricks on his mind. “I do worry for Michael. He’s a class player, and I’m not going to take that away from him. He has been – and possibly still is – one of the most frightening players out there,” Lloyd said.

“But he’s got these niggling little injuries, and niggles become big things. I hope in the period he’s had off he’s tried to address them. I’ve only seen snippets on social media, but if he’s got it sorted there’s no doubt about his talent," 'Jaws' continues. “If he hasn’t, though, niggles play funny tricks on your mind. Instead of focusing on who you are and what you can be, your brain starts playing tricks with you and you start looking for excuses before you’ve even gone up there and done anything.”

Lloyd stressed that Smith’s pedigree is beyond question, but made clear that unless the physical issues are solved, his long-term prospects could be under threat. “Hopefully, with the time off from missing the Matchplay, he’s had chance to reflect, sort things out, and spend time with his family. But now it’s time to go back to work. His talent is undoubted. If he’s right, he’ll push back up the rankings. He’s too good not to.”

While Lloyd’s words on Smith were cautious, he was more upbeat about Nathan Aspinall, who has also slid down the rankings after a summer of disappointment.

“I think Nathan does [get back],” Lloyd insisted. “He only dropped because of the Matchplay money – it was huge. But he’s in everything else, and two years ago he didn’t really have runs in those events, so he’ll be on a bonus now. I’m confident he’ll climb.”

The conversation inevitably turned to the ranking system itself, with critics arguing the two-year rolling format no longer reflects form “in the here and now.” Lloyd acknowledged those frustrations but argued that the structure remains part of the sport’s fabric.

“Maybe it is time to look at it,” he said. “But that two-year system has been in place for years. Everyone knows it going in – if you win something, you’ve got to defend it two years later. It’s not perfect, but that’s the system. If they do change it, it can’t happen overnight. And don’t think the PDC don’t look at these things. They do, and they want it to be fair. But players know what’s expected of them. You win a Pro Tour this Monday, you know exactly when you’ll be defending it.”

Lloyd also addressed wider structural questions, particularly the ongoing debate about the Premier League. Many fans argue the invitational has become repetitive, with the same faces dominating year after year.

The former world No.1 floated one radical alternative: a golf-style qualification race to determine the line-up. “Do you just pick the top eight in the world, no wild cards?" Lloyd proposed.

"Or maybe a race like golf – the FedEx Cup, Race to Dubai. The PDC could pick certain events, Pro Tours, Euro Tours, majors, World Series. After the cut-off, those eight or ten are your Premier League," Lloyd continues. “I like that, actually. It gives you another race to follow, another narrative. Fans could track who might sneak in. It would give players a kick up the bum too. Some are just riding the wave, but others need a shake.”

For Lloyd, the wider message was simple: darts has never offered more opportunity, but the hard work is relentless.

“Darts is in a very good place. It’s not just about prize money, though there’s a great living to be made. But don’t think getting a tour card means you’ve made it – that’s when the hard work begins," he analyses. “You’ve got to qualify for Euro Tours, you’ve got to get in majors. If you graft, you’ll be rewarded, not just financially but because your work is paying off. If you don’t, you’ll get found out quickly. Time waits for no one, and neither does darts.”

Lloyd’s words carry extra weight as someone who reached the very top of the sport, only to experience the pressures and pitfalls that come with it. His assessment of Smith – both respectful and wary – is a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough. For the 2023 world champion, the coming months will be crucial: either the injuries are behind him and the climb begins again, or the doubts that Lloyd has flagged could grow louder.