LUKE LITTLER is ready to face the wrath of Leeds fans given his loyal Manchester United connection.
The Nuke has no problem with the pantomime stick he gets during the Premier League Darts circuit, particularly in places like Liverpool or Newcastle, due to his football allegiance.
GettyLuke Littler is no stranger to stick from the darts crowds[/caption]
GettyLittler celebrates his record fifth Premier League Darts nightly win[/caption]
Leeds and Manchester United fans have a long-established rivalry and the reigning world champion, who supports the Red Devils, knows he might be a target for banter on Thursday night.
The 18-year-old takes it all in his stride and always tries to react with a playful hand cupped behind his ear.
Littler earned his record fifth Prem nightly win last week in Birmingham, which banked him £10,000, and his target now is to go beyond 40 points – he has 35 from 13 weeks.
Asked how he would approach the trip to the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the Warrington lad said: “It depends on how the fans react.
“I don’t want to say I have secured top spot yet in the Premier League. But like the thing in Newcastle and Liverpool, I will always give it back to them.”
Littler – who faces Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals – is the only person so far to confirm his spot in the London O2 Arena playoffs on May 29.
And this evening he will try to ruin Luke Humphries’s home parade, given that Cool Hand Luke is a massive Leeds fan.
The reigning world champion said: “I will just relax these next few weeks. I don’t have to perform to any high standard. Just cruise my way into the O2.
“Am I dangerous because I’m relaxed? We will have to see.
“Last year I secured top spot with quite a few weeks left. Right now, I have not secured it mathematically.
“Luke, Gerwyn Price, they can go on and win the nights back-to-back.
“The money is there to be won. The nightly wins are there to be won as well.
“I want to become a multiple Premier League champion. I want to become multiple world champion as well.
“I know what I have done for myself and the sport itself. I have said plenty of times, there is not much time to have a proper sitdown and think about what I’ve done.
“For myself, I know what I have done within the space of 18 months and there is plenty more to come. Win one of every major and I will be happy.
“It’s very different this time, being the world champion, there’s always a target on my back, especially from last year. But I know myself, I have got to perform.”
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