Payne looking to reclaim PDC Tour Card: "I know I've got the game, all it has been with me is consistency"

Josh Payne went through a difficult period in recent years. However, the 28-year old wants to return to the Pro Tour as soon as possible.

Payne, former quarter-finalist at the UK Open and winner of two Players Championship tournaments, lost his Tour Card after last year.

"It was hard, it was very hard. Family life comes first, my girlfriend Sally was ill and darts took a step back. I was alright with that to be fair, I know I can rebuild and go again. I'm probably playing better darts now than a year or two so I'm happy where I am," said Payne to Online Darts.

"When we were going away, I didn't want to go away. I had to play the World Championship straight after it all come out and I didn't even throw a dart. I turned up I played one game but I didn't do anything and I didn't want to be there so not the right place really."

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Rebuilding process

He has been playing in the Online Darts Live League and is glad for the match practice.

"This has been a godsend really. I didn't really like the Challenge Tour, I've never played that. You can't really get better match practice."

It is all part of the rebuild for Payne who wants to return to his former glories with a return to the ProTour next year.

"Keep practicing and working hard and get back to where I want to be. I know I've got the game, all it has been with me is consistency. I can score with the best in the world but it's a lot of other things in the background.

"I know I've got to work hard but I'm ready for that. It's very tough these days, top 16, top 12 would be good."