Phil Taylor has revealed he would be keen on stepping in to help guide Luke Littler’s career, although the 14-time PDC world champion set certain requirements on making it happen.
It was revealed this week that Taylor was forced to bring his playing career to an abrupt end as he felt unable to compete in his swansong event.
Taylor is widely recognised as the greatest darts player of all time, but Littler may well be primed to challenge that title.
At just 17 years of age, Littler has already taken the world of darts by storm and won the Premier League title in his debut season this year.
Luke Littler could receive help from Phil Taylor
PA
He will be one of the strong favourites to win the World Darts Championships this winter having reached the final just under 12 months ago.
Littler has spoken of his admiration for Taylor and called it ‘crazy’ to receive praise from his idol at last year’s World Championships.
And Taylor has claimed he received an offer from Littler’s team to help him further his career.
The 64-year-old admitted he was up for helping the teenager, however Taylor insists he would want to keep a close eye on his habits.
He told talkSPORT: “With young Luke, they have asked me if I would sit down with him. I said: ‘Of course, I will.’
“But I would have to go and live with him for a few days, see what he is all about.
“I know young Luke, we have the same sponsor. If I spent time with him, I would see how he practises, see how he eats and exercises, how he does anything.
“If he’s playing on those PlayStations, I would give him a set time, an hour a night or something, and then get ready for the next day.
Phil Taylor is bringing his career to an endPA
“Make sure you aren’t staying up late and wake up in the morning and you are shattered.
“I have seen that many, many times – players who will have a drink afterwards, they get into the drinking and then they aren’t getting to bed until 1am or 2am.”
Littler looked back to his very best at the weekend after a brief difficult spell having changed darts.
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He went back to his old arrows at the Czech Darts Open where he broke tournament records before being stopped by Luke Humphies
.Littler is back in action this weekend at the European Championship and will begin the tournament against Andrew Gilding.
He could then face a rematch against Ricardo Pietrezcko after the two had an altercation on the European Tour earlier this year.