"I'm knuckling down, I'm putting the work in and hopefully I can get back there" - Chris Dobey intent on returning to Premier League Darts

After making his debut in last year's campaign, Chris Dobey was not invited to the Premier League Darts this year. As a result, the 34-year-old Englishman has his sights set on returning to this major next year.

Dobey lost 5-4 to Rob Cross in the quarterfinals at the last World Championship. "If I'd have won that game against Rob, I'd probably have had one foot in," Dobey tells Online Darts. "But I did nothing wrong in that game. I didn't drift away, I just stayed at that 100 average mark all game. He just came back brilliantly and you've got to take your hat off to the way he played."

"I'm knuckling down, I'm putting the work in and hopefully I can get back there," 'Hollywood' continues, determined to get back amongst the darting elite. "Obviously I don't want to drop out of the top-16, that's one of my big goals. It took me a while to get into the top-16, just baby steps and as long as I can stay in there then I'll be happy."

Finally, Dobey also gave his opinion on his Target stablemate Luke Littler's stunning recent Premier League Darts win on debut. "It is unbelievable what he has done. It's fantastic for the sport, he's brought all the eyes back and you've got to give him a lot of credit. When people were saying Chris isn't in the Premier League and Luke's is in how could they do that? It was a no brainer they had to put Luke in!"

"Honestly, I've also seen a change in the lad. He's so confident on that stage and he's a shy little kid. People forget how old he is and you've got to put that to the side once he's up on that stage," Dobey concludes. "On that stage he's so confident and it's great to be in the same stable as the likes of him and Nathan Aspinall. They're at the top again and that's where I want to be."