'People aren’t frightened of him at the minute': Adrian Lewis lacking fear factor so far in return according to Phil Taylor

Taylor explains: "He was what you call match fit now he isn’t at the minute, so he has to get that fitness back up again. He needs to get used to playing in longer games again and competitive games against people what can play against you as well.”

Players are not afraid of him - Taylor

Whereas Lewis used to be known for his impressive scoring ability and coolness on the doubles, that reputation seems to have faded somewhat, according to Taylor. "That’s another thing people aren’t frightened of him at the minute.

“Adrian should enter as many competitions as he can to get his confidence up and his scoring power because Adrian is a big scorer.

Taylor stressed that this need not be a permanent situation, provided Lewis is willing to work hard in the coming months. “He needs to get as much match practice as he can. It’s the competition where you need to hit that double and hit that 180 at the right time that is the difference.”

A golden past with Taylor

Taylor's words carry extra weight because the two share a special history together. Lewis broke through as a young talent under the wings of Taylor, who mentored and inspired him to win his first world title in 2011. Together, they also made history in the World Cup of Darts, taking the title four times for England.

In 2012, they beat Australia in a legendary final, and a year later they became the first back-to-back winners by knocking off Belgium. For English darts, the Lewis-Taylor duo was a guarantee of success for years.

The question remains how far Lewis can go. At 39, his career is not over, but in a sport that has become increasingly competitive in recent years, the road back to the absolute top is not going to be easy. Players such as Luke Humphries, Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price have now raised the standard considerably.

What will the future bring?

Much will depend on the choices Lewis makes in the coming months. Frequent participation in tournaments - both Pro Tour and invitational events - will allow him to build up the necessary match rhythm. In addition, his mental resilience will be tested: how does he deal with disappointments, and can he find the motivation to fully reinvigorate himself?

For the world of darts, at least, his return is an enrichment. Lewis was a crowd favorite for years, not only because of his successes, but also because of his flamboyant style and unpredictable matches. That he is back on stage brings a touch of nostalgia as well as curiosity.