NATHAN ASPINALL has revealed he will make a surprise return to the oche after SHOCKWAVE therapy.
The World No.5 had to pull out of the World Series finals this weekend due to continuing issues with his right elbow.
Aspinall, 33, was seen in a surgical gown last week as he underwent more treatment.
He admitted to Online Darts: “I had to go back to the Matchplay and give it my all to try and defend my title, but I knew it was never going to happen. Obviously, after that I made the call to pull out of everything and get it done.
“It’s been a tough couple of months for me, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The treatment has gone fantastically and we’re not far off coming back!
“I’ve just been back to the hospital to get all of my results and basically, in a nutshell, I’ve had all these tendon problems, golfer’s elbow, tendonitis.
“So I’ve had six or seven treatments of shockwave therapy, plus rehab, but I was just still getting a lot of pain and a lot of swelling in my elbow.
“There’s basically a bone in my elbow joint that’s rubbing into things. So I need to have an injection with something called plasma directly into my elbow joint. That’s the last piece of the puzzle.”
Now Aspinall is ready to return to the ProTour in Wigan next week.
He added: “I’ll be back Tuesday for the Pro Tours in Wigan. It has been frustrating. I just can’t wait to get back playing. I never thought I’d miss darts as much as I have.
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LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
“I’ve kind of blagged a few results. Yeah I played fantastic at the 2023 World Matchplay, but prior to that, getting to the final of the Grand Slam and the Grand Prix, I don’t think I was playing particularly well, I just did the right things.
“Everyone knows me. I’m gritty and determined and I think that’s what has got me through the last few years.”
