Michael van Gerwen in 'situation he doesn't like' with backlash expected

Michael van Gerwen has been tipped to rediscover his best form - because he will hate the fact that he's being overshadowed by other players at the top of their game.

The Dutch darts master, 35, has came up short in all three weeks of the new Premier League season, crashing out in the semi-finals. He also lost to Luke Littler at the start of the year in the World Championship final.

Van Gerwen is a seven-time Premier League champion and will be out to bounce back in style when he and the rest of the sports' elite stars touch down in Exeter.

And PDC star Matthew Edgar reckons it is only a matter of time before the world No.3 is back to his best - and that spells bad news for his big rivals.

Edgar told Sky Sports of Van Gerwen: "I think he's in a situation he probably doesn't like. The conversation of who is the best player in the world has always been Michael van Gerwen or this or that player.

"But he's not really in that conversation, despite the fact he reached a world final. He's being overlooked."

He continued: "I think there's going to be a backlash. We're going to see Michael van Gerwen hit back and hit back hard. But he needs that consistency, that game-by-game. That's what the Premier League is."

Van Gerwen will meet former world champion Rob Cross in Thursday night's opener. Cross has won six of their last seven meetings, meaning form is not with Van Gerwen as he bids to make it through to the night four final.

But he insists he has no issues with people talking about his poor form - as he's still No.3 in the world even when he's not playing at his best.

He told Sky Sports: "I've been playing in the Premier League for a little while, so to perform in front of all those people, it gives you joy, it gives you energy, and that's what's so nice about darts.

"A lot of people, they don't have a mindset. You know what I mean? They just say they have a mindset, but they're weak as f***. And that's the way how it is.

"[Talk about my form] happens when I am not even playing my best darts, so could you imagine if I played my best darts?"