Nathan Aspinall has suffered an injury scare ahead of the World Masters and Premier League Darts.
The World No.11 is due to face Andrew Gilding in the first round of the World Masters, which gets underway on Thursday, before kicking off the Premier League in Belfast on February 6. However, Aspinall is struggling with an elbow injury and has been forced to go to hospital to get it checked out.
The issue first reared its head during the World Series of Darts in Bahrain earlier this month, with his elbow swelling up after an apparent insect bite. And ITV commentator Dan Dawson has now revealed Aspinall has an infection that is “still causing him problems”.
Dawson said: “They weren’t quite sure what it was in Bahrain and they’re still not 100 per cent sure what’s caused it. But even as recently as yesterday, it was still causing him problems. He had to visit hospital back in the UK this week as well.
“It is bursitis, so it’s an infection of his elbow. He’s been taking tablets for it to try and manage the condition, but it looks like something that he’s going to have to deal with for a few weeks.”
Aspinall has previously opened up about struggling with dartitis, admitting ahead of his run to the quarter-finals at the World Darts Championship that he had endured a “s***e” 2024. “I was open and honest about it, I’ve tried to hide it for the last 18 months, two years, but I think it was important for people to understand what I’ve been through,” he said.
“I will overcome it and give hope to anyone else that’s going through something similar. I think what it was is I’ve just come back from a wrist injury and I just started playing well. I was in the toilet, smashing the hand dryer and I’m crying and going: Just give me a break.
“I mean, I’ve had back injuries, I’ve had wrist injuries, I’ve just about started playing well and then this. Just gimme a break, let me play darts for like more than three months without something happening. It’s been tough, but I won the MatchPlay with it.
“It’s been a tough 12 months, but I feel there’s a very bright light and the end of that tunnel. I’m just looking to get back knowing how good I am. I’m the first to admit this year I’ve been absolutely s***e from start to finish. I’ve not been performing well.
“My finishing has been horrendous. I’ve not been past the third round since I got to the semi-final four years ago, but I do think this is gonna be the year that I’m gonna have a good one. I feel this is the first year in a few years that I feel ready for this tournament.”
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