Luke Littler ‘hires celeb bodyguard’ who worked for two Premier League icons to protect him from ‘overzealous’ fans

LUKE Littler has hired a personage bodyguard who has antecedently worked for Premier League legends Thierry Henry and Peter Crouch.

The darts hotshot, 17, nicknamed "the Nuke", is the sport's youngest ever champion pursuing his triumph implicit Michael van Gerwen astatine Alexandra Palace this month.

And with his fame rising, Littler's absorption has employed Peter Purkins to support him from "overzealous" fans, reports the Mirror.

A root told the newspaper: "Luke is now 1 of the astir recognisable faces successful the state and has a batch of caller fans. 

"Sometimes radical tin beryllium a small overzealous erstwhile they spot him, truthful it's sensible to person idiosyncratic alongside him who tin measurement successful to assistance if needed."

Purkins has reportedly worked connected information teams astatine darts events successful the UK and Europe, and besides provided services for shot pundits.

DEFEAT

It comes aft Littler was dumped retired of the Bahrain Darts Masters connected Friday by erstwhile satellite champion Gerwyn Price.

Reacting to the decision connected societal media, helium wrote: "Not my nighttime but large crippled @gerwynpriceiceman180.

"Heading location for a fewer days past looking guardant to the Dutch Darts Masters."

Meanwhile, he's acceptable to parade the Sid Waddell Trophy connected Sunday successful beforehand of Manchester United fans connected the Old Trafford pitch.

The teen will beryllium impermanent of honour for the Premier League clash with Brighton.

The Warrington ace, a long-term Man Utd fan, volition amusement disconnected the silverware, which helium won connected January 3 by beating van Gerwen in the Ally Pally final, to the 75,000-strong assemblage astatine half-time.

It has been moved from pre-game to debar a clash with the emotional tributes to erstwhile United and Scotland striker Denis Law, who died connected Friday aged 84.

Littler is not acceptable to spot Ruben Amorim’s players earlier the crippled against the Seagulls nor springiness immoderate squad talks but helium is acceptable to conscionable with them post-match.

BIRTHDAY

On Tuesday, he volition crook 18 and past a fewer days later, helium volition question to Den Bosch successful Holland for the two-day Dutch Darts Masters.

Littler was this week gifted an aboriginal day barroom by a GIANT COW during a repast with his loved ones successful Bahrain.

And Butlin's - who big respective PDC darts events each twelvemonth - person besides fixed The Nuke an aboriginal day gift.

The holiday resort concatenation has fixed the 17-year-old a peculiar Black Card Pass to their celebrated Big Weekenders.

Butlins bigwig Mike Godolphin said: “We’re arrogant to big immoderate of the biggest names successful darts doubly a twelvemonth successful Minehead and presently there’s nary 1 bigger than Luke Littler.

“Every clip Luke has visited america astatine Butlin’s he’s ever been playing, truthful for his 18th this period we’re delighted to connection the reigning World Champion a day contiguous to remember."