"My lack of form is a bit alien to me'' - Joe Cullen counts on form returning soon

Joe Cullen is currently in the best period of his career. By his own admission, "The Rockstar" is playing poor, but Cullen warns his competitors not to take him lightly.

This season Cullen played in two ranking finals, but those were also the only two tournaments that he managed to reach the quarter-finals at all. The former Masters champion is counting on his form returning soon.

“My lack of form is a bit alien to me at the minute, because I’ve lost form before, like everyone can, but It’s not lasted as long as it has this time," he said to Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

“But I’m 100 per cent confident I can come out the other side of this and hopefully it will be the making of me this year, having had setbacks throughout the last few months."

There are a number of important months ahead, with many major tournaments, including, in addition to the World Grand Prix, tournaments such as the European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and the Darts World Cup.

“For me personally, initially, I just want to feel comfortable with my game again, regardless of results. Over the last two or three months, I’ve not been comfortable with my technique and stuff like that, but it's also the mentality, because for me the mental side of darts is the biggest part of it.

“It’s been a test for me, but I know I can still do some damage and if players are looking at my form and thinking they’ve got a favourable draw, I want that. I know it won’t be this s**t for me forever, it will turn, so it’s just a matter of persevering and believing.”

On Tuesday night, Cullen will take on Chris Dobey in the first round of the World Grand Prix. Last year, "The Rockstar" managed a nice semifinal spot at the double-in double-out tournament.

“Normally, I’d say Chris' good form would help him, but I do think it’s a little irrelevant because of the format of the World Grand Prix. Chris is one of my best friends on the Tour, I spend a lot of time with him, so I know full well that the main part of his game is scoring.

“He’s a massive scorer, and if this was a ‘normal’ tournament, like the World Matchplay, he’d definitely be going into our game as the favourite, and rightly so.

However, the World Grand Prix is a unique tournament on the PDC calendar. Not only must the legs be concluded with a double, but the legs must also be opened with a double. "It’s a bit of both, but it is nice to mix it up.

“It’s a massive leveller like I said, and there have been so many surprise finalists and even winners because of that.

Whether Cullen finds the format exciting or tedious? "I think one of the most famous examples of what the double start can do was when Andy Callaby beat Phil Taylor in the first round of this tournament.

“No-one had ever heard of Andy before that game (in 2004), and no-one’s really heard about him since, but he’ll always be remembered for that game. That’s what the uniqueness of this tournament, and the cutthroat nature of this format, can produce.”