"On stage you’re there to win, not to make a friendship": Jonny Clayton all business ahead of Premier League Darts return

On Thursday evening, a new edition of the Premier League Darts begins, and Clayton returns to the stage where he feels most at home. After a year away, the Welshman is back — and by his own admission, he has a point to prove.

“Great to be back,” says Clayton during pre tournament media. “I’ve moaned enough about not being in it, so I’m back now with a smile on my face and I’ve got some proving to do to show that I should be in it.”

The fact that Clayton made no secret last year of how much he wanted to play in the Premier League makes his comeback all the more striking. The Welshman is extra motivated after his previous absence.

“Yeah, of course I do,” he says. “If you talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk, haven’t you? I’ve said that I should have been in it, now I need to prove why I should be in it. I’m really looking forward to this — I’m ready for it.”

That determination isn’t baseless. Clayton’s Premier League record is impressive: three appearances, three Finals Nights. “Three out of three is brilliant,” he says. “Hopefully this year it’ll be my fourth time in the Premier League and my fourth Finals Night — hopefully a second trophy.”

Finals Night at the O2 Arena isn’t a dream for Clayton, but an expectation. “I’m going there — I’m going there to play, so I’m not going to have to watch,” he adds.

That sense of confidence wasn’t always there. Missing out last season hurt. “Yeah, I ain’t going to lie,” Clayton admits. “I thought I had a good chance of being in it last year. The year before, I got no complaints at all, but last year hurt a bit.”

That absence became fuel for a strong campaign. “I wanted to be back in it,” he continues. “I love this tournament — this is my favourite tournament of all. I wanted to be back in it, I’m back, and now I’ve got a point to prove.”

Clayton can explain exactly why this competition brings out the best in him. “I just love it,” he says. “I love the format, I love the different venues, different cities, and I like playing against the best in the world. If you’re involved in the Premier League, you are going to play against the best in the world — so that’s what I want.”

One of those top players is Gerwyn Price, with whom Clayton has built a close relationship over the years. Teammates off stage, rivals on it. “I liked what Gezzy said last week,” Clayton explains. “On stage there’s no friends, which is true, but backstage we’ll always be great friends, best of friends. On stage you’re there to win, not to make a friendship.”

An internal rivalry? “It’ll be shake hands, end of the smiling,” Clayton says. “And hopefully it’ll be my time this time.”

Despite their competitive battles, there has never been any friction. “No, genuinely, we’ve never fallen out,” he says. “I respect every player I play against. I give them total respect — that’s why I don’t think I’ve ever had a disagreement with anybody. I definitely don’t want to disagree with my warm-up partner.”

That respectful mindset defines Clayton’s approach to the Premier League grind. “If you can’t raise it to the best of your ability, you’ve got a good chance of losing,” he explains. “The concentration levels are totally different — 16 weeks against the best players in the world. It’s going to be difficult, but somehow I get through, so hopefully I’m going to get through this year again.”

Speculation often focuses on favourites and ‘certainties’, but Clayton isn’t interested.“No, not really,” he says. “If I do my job well, I’m hard to stop. If I don’t do it well, other players are there to knock you down.”

He points to darts’ unpredictability. “People said the two Lukes were going to walk the World Championship — that never happened,” he says. “Darts is a funny old game. We’re all there to try and win that match on the night and get into the last four, so who knows?”

Clayton begins this campaign not just as a participant, but as a former champion — and that brings different pressure. “To be honest, I think I’m more nervous going back now,” he admits. “When I was in the first one, there was no pressure at all. Nobody cared about Jonny Clayton. I won the Masters and got picked.”

Now, expectations are higher. “I showed them what I could do,” he adds, “and hopefully I can do it again.”

If he were to meet Price in the final in Cardiff, Clayton expects neutrality rather than tribalism.

“If we got to the final there, I think the crowd would be on both of our sides,” he says. “I don’t think there’d be a favourite — I think it would be respect the darts rather than who they want to win.”

With darts increasingly dominated by younger stars, Clayton is unconvinced that age is a barrier.

“I’m not that old yet,” he laughs. “But genuinely, in darts, is there an age that you have to be good? I don’t think there is.”

He points to Gary Anderson as proof. “If they work, they work,” he says. “I don’t think being young overrides being older — experienced, I should say. We’ve got a bit more experience than these youngsters.”

At media day, Clayton’s enthusiasm is unmistakable. “I’ve got a smile on my face,” he says. “I want to be here. This one, I can’t wait. I wanted to get there — I couldn’t wait to leave the house.”

That hunger is backed up by recent form, including a narrow loss to Price at the Masters. “Not only the Masters,” Clayton says. “I think of last year. My darts are doing the talking again. There’s always room for improvement, but if I do my job well, I’m hard to stop.”

He’s clear about accountability. “It’s my mistakes that will cost games, nobody else’s,” he adds. “If somebody plays better darts, well, he’s done his job and I’ve not.”

A tough opening test awaits in Josh Rock. The debutant has already joked about Clayton being “the old boy”. “Cheeky git,” Clayton smiles. “But to be fair, he’s a good lad — full of fun, confident, a great player. He’s bouncing and ready to go.”

Still, experience may count. “I’ve had the experience,” Clayton says. “So hopefully a little bit of experience will help me through.”

He expects nerves on both sides. “We’ll all be nervous,” he says. “It’s the first match of the Premier League — nobody wants to lose that first match. One of us is going to have to lose. Hopefully it’s my night.”

Bookmakers have Clayton further down the odds than some rivals — something he hasn’t missed. "It motivates me,” he admits. “People obviously rate the others more. I’ve been number five in the world before, and I think that’s a bit of a kick in the back, to be honest.”

Whether that sense of being underestimated proves decisive will be revealed in the weeks ahead. “Let’s see on Finals Night.”