Michael van Gerwen dismisses injury concern with weightlifter remark

Michael van Gerwen has brushed off concerns over his injured wrist ahead of Premier League play-off night in Berlin.

The Green Machine will undergo surgery immediately after the Premier League finale after revealing he has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome – pressure on the wrist which can lead to tingling and numbness in the arm and hand.

Van Gerwen revealed recently he had been struggling with the problem for 18 months and wants to get it fixed now to ensure he will be at 100 per cent for the big TV majors in the second half of the year, starting with the World Matchplay in July. As a result, he will miss the upcoming World Cup of Darts in Germany.

The 33-year-old had no intention of missing play-off night, where he will face James Wade in the semi-finals. He regards it as the biggest event in the sport after the World Championship and insists the injury, and his impending operation, will not be playing on his mind in the German capital.

"I am a dart player, not a weightlifter. I want to concentrate fully on the final now, everything is focused on Monday. I have to make sure my head is right. The rest is all an afterthought,” he said told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, via DartsNews.

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Unlike two other play-off qualifiers, Jonny Clayton and Joe Cullen, Van Gerwen will be in action this weekend in the latest event of the World Series of Darts, the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen.

Van Gerwen will face Marko Kantele in the first round tonight. Assuming he wins, and Wade beats Madars Razma in his first-round tie, the Premier League rivals will meet in round two on Saturday.

MVG insists he won’t be at a disadvantage compared to the more rested Clayton and Cullen, saying: “You can also say I get a lot more match rhythm towards the final and get into the flow. I see it as a nice preparation.”

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