Mardle backing Van Barneveld for run on World Darts Championship return: "At 200/1, it's too big a price"

Raymond van Barneveld will make his highly anticipated return to the PDC World Darts Championship when he will face Rob Cross if he can get past Lourence Ilagan.

Despite the tricky draw, Wayne Mardle has said that he believes he is too big of a price to pass up and that if he can get through his openers, people will begin to think can he do it.

"I've backed Barney! If what is maybe a mini-miracle happens, I want part of this miracle," Mardle told Sky Sports.

"I watched him play - I was doing an exhibition with him just a few days ago in Hastings. He went and won it!

"There was only Rob Cross, Jonny Clayton, Devon Petersen, Fallon Sherrock, Paul Nicholson and me there. He annihilated everyone!

"I believe at 200/1, it's too big a price. If he plays well and he can hold it together, he's got to hold it together, he can go on a run."

"If he was to reach say the last 16, and the draw was to open up, all of a sudden people will be giving it: 'He couldn't could he?'

"It would be amazing, wouldn't it? It is a romantic story. It is one of those where you can reminisce. It's like if Steve Beaton was to roll back the years, or Paul Lim playing well again. It takes me back!

"We are reminiscing with Beaton, Paul Lim and Barney, but are they capable of winning and having a run? When I say winning, I mean games, I'm not quite sure they are capable of winning the event.

"Barney, can he reach the quarter-finals? Why not. He's got the ability, but I'm not quite sure that belief is fully there yet."