"Littler's not really doing much, he was rubbish in the ProTours": Gerwyn Price sees Luke Humphries as World Matchplay favourite in leading duo

Gerwyn Price has had health issues in recent months that he is still waiting on answers for in what is a real burden ahead of the World Matchplay and saw him have to withdraw recently from the World Cup of Darts and he is fairly honest that he is not where he wants to be.

Speaking to Online Darts during an exhibition in Brentwood in which he hit a 112 average in facing Richie Howson before losing to Raymond van Barneveld who hit a 104 average, he explained the situation and that he is continuing to be devoid of answers.

"I'm waiting for the results so fingers crossed we'll get some answers. But until I get the answers, it's going to be the same old same old and until the blood has come back and I'm seeing a specialist Monday so fingers crossed I get some answers because I've been searching for the last couple of years to find out what's been going on. But no answers so far. Fingers crossed over the next couple of weeks, that'll be different," said Price to Online Darts.

"It affects me when I'm in certain situations. When the temperatures are hot. I don't know myself. I was away in America, walking round the parks for 30 minutes and I had to get out of there and get on the phone to a nurse and get some IV drip in me. I thought I was dehydrated. It is what it is. I have to find out what the problem is."

But on withdrawing from the World Cup of Darts, he joked they gifted it to England and was one of his toughest decisions as Jonny Clayton and Jim Williams lost early on. "One of the biggest decisions. I love representing my country whether it's in darts, rugby, football. I want to put that Welsh shirt on. I let Jonny down and not just that my fans and my family. I love playing darts and want to play in as many tournaments as I can and to miss the World Cup is difficult for me.

"I think we gifted it to England anyway. I'm a darts fan, I watch darts all the time. I love to watch sport and keep my eye on it. Gutted I couldn't play in it."

Going onto the World Matchplay, he faces Daryl Gurney first up on Saturday and he said that he isn't sure what's going to happen as he isn't particularly right in his own mind at the moment. "I've never done well there. I've reached the Quarters, Last 16, semi-finals and lost in the final to Michael. I'm playing well, I think the main thing is my head's not right. I haven't been as consistent as I want to be heading into these big majors. But anything can happen on the day."

But he rubbished the idea that there is eyes on both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. He sees only Luke Humphries as the main protagonist with Littler losing with 78 averages during the ProTour.

"I think it's all eyes on one Luke at the minute. Luke Littler's not really doing much at all, he was rubbish on the weekend in the ProTours. I know he's probably like Dimi and Kevin Painter, he's a stage player. No doubt about it. But Michael (van Gerwen) what a first round game. I think Michael will come out fighting."

But despite the Nordic Darts Masters display recently, he said that he isn't anywhere near the all conquering Gerwyn Price right now. "I'm miles off compared to where I want to be. I know how well I can play, I know how well I can practice. But when it is ProTours, European Tours, majors I'm way off. My standard for myself is nowhere near where I want to be. My main thing is my health and nothing else matters to me."