MICHAEL SMITH has revealed he’s having injections so he can be pain-free at the World Championship.
The St.Helens ace’s struggles were on full display at the Players Championship Finals, where he limped through his walk-on and hobbled at the oche before losing 6-4 to Martin Schindler in round one.
Two-time major winner Smith has battled arthritis as well as ongoing wrist, shoulder and foot issues which has seen him drop outside the top 16.
Smith, 35, has now disclosed what the specialist found, including concerns over “excessive extra bone” building around his ankle.
But Smith, who faces Lisa Ashton on opening night next Thursday, admits the visit also gave him renewed optimism after understanding the full extent of the problem.
He said: “Been to see the specialist today regarding my ankle and my arthritis and he confirmed it again that’s what it is, but from my X-rays he was concerned if I’d ever broken it because of the excessive extra bone growing around my ankle.
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“But now for the Worlds as I’m sat in the car waiting for them to ring me for 2 injections for my ankle and wrist and maybe shoulder.
“So I should be skipping down the walk-on joking – didn’t skip as a kid and definitely not now lol.
“But to know I won’t be in all the pain like at Minehead and will be able to balance myself properly is a great feeling.
“So now get these done then straight to the sofa to rest then to the dartboard for pain-free sessions.”
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Smith will be hopeful of winning his first World Darts Championship title since his famous 2023 triumph at Ally Pally.
His rotten luck with injuries has seen him miss out on huge events this season, including the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and Premier League.
But Smith is working his way back to fitness and impressed with a quarter-final finish at the Grand Slam of Darts.
He recently showed off his preparations for the world championships after posting a video of himself practicing on his board at home.
And fans couldn’t help but notice a cheeky homage to his 2023 win over Michael van Gerwen on the background to his darts board.
Smith had immortalised the moment he become world champion with a cut-out of the score against the Dutchman.
He previously admitted he had faced mental struggles before returning to form at the Grand Slam of Darts last month.
Smith said he was “crying in bed” just days before securing qualification due to severe pain from his ankle injury.
And he later broke down in tears at the tournament after a 5-3 win over Nathan Aspinall as he admitted it “p***** him off” watching others do well in his absence.