Nathan Aspinall shows 'big lump' on elbow as he lifts lid on hospital visit ahead of Premier League Darts opener

Battling Nathan Aspinall has spoken of the key hospital visit that eased agony over elbow fears.

The Stockport star, who faces World No.1 Luke Humphries in Belfast on Night one of Premier League Darts, was left stunned in Bahrain last month after swelling appeared on his right arm.

Aspinall sought medical attention in the Kingdom and played through the issue over the World Series weekend. Having fought through injury problems last year, the 33-year-old was worried more setbacks could be on the way.

But having had more checks in England upon his return from the Middle East, it was confirmed to Aspinall that bursitis would not affect his game, even though the issue could remain through the next three or months.

He explained: “I’ve still got it. See it there, big lump. It wasn’t an insect bite, that’s what I thought it was originally. It just basically put a ball of fluid in my elbow and this weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, there was nothing.

"I woke up Monday morning and it was like twice the size of that I’m going to have it for about three or four months.

“It doesn’t hurt, I can touch it, it doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t affect my throw. I’d like to say it does when I’ve had a bad game! But it actually doesn’t. It’s just one of those things that will just keep coming and going for the next few months. But it doesn’t affect my performance whatsoever.

“If I play bad, it’s all down to me, not my lump. I can’t probably say what I was saying? I couldn’t believe it. But, obviously, we seek professional advice and straight away I knew it wasn’t anything like I’d had in the past. It’s not going to affect my darts. So it was just one of those things. Went to the hospital when I got back from England and they confirmed it