Stephen Bunting ready for shock World Cup of Darts call-up if Luke Littler pulls out after cryptic post

The Sun

23-04-2025

STEPHEN BUNTING believes he could get a shock England call-up if Luke Littler KO's returning to Germany.
The World No4 is ready for an emotional return to home fans in the Premier League Night 12 in Liverpool on Thursday.
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But The Bullet, 40, is also eyeing up a surprise place for the national team in the World Cup on June 12 in Frankfurt.
Littler and Humphries are set to be England's duo but the teen sensation placed some doubt on his position after a cryptic social media post at the weekend.
He said: 'Shouldn't have been in Munich but had to play anyway, next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.'
Bunting would be next in line if the teen sensation doesn't play, he smiled and said: 'He's put a few posts on socials about not going back to Germany.
'Well, if he doesn't go back to Germany, that means I'm in the World Cup, doesn't it?'
On Littler 's banter with the Liverpool fans ahead of the M&S Bank Arena event, he added: 'I think it's a dangerous path that you could go down.
'Obviously, you don't want to get the fans hating you. For me, it's always been about showing my personality, whether it be TikTok or YouTube, and showing what I'm about.
'Showing the fans something different, a different side. I know football rivalries aside, people all boo and cheer for the favourites.'
Bunting dismissed any notion of swapping his iconic Titanium walk-on for You'll Never Walk Alone. He admits the latter means more to him still.
He added: 'You'll Never Walk Alone is the best, definitely. Especially when I'm in the ground and we're all singing it together. But I couldn't walk on to You'll Never Walk Alone. I don't want to make myself too emotional.
Stephen Bunting reveals how he is staying positive despite Premier League Darts struggles
'I don't know whether PDC will allow it. I may ask PDC if I can put a bit of Jamie Webster, My City, before I go on. I think that's more of a poignant song.
'I think obviously My City, My People, My Heart and then going to the Titanium. I think that would be a really nice touch.
'When I get up on that stage, I'll sing Titanium as loud as I can to the Liverpool crowd. Hopefully they can get behind me all night and be my 12th man.'
Bunting admits he needs his own Liverpool 'Istanbul' legendary comeback in the 2005 Champions League final to climb from bottom of the table to fourth place - a current gap of eight points - with five nights to go.
He said: 'I'm a Scouser, aren't I? We fight till the end. That was born and bred in me ever since I've been a young lad.
Comeback
'I'll never give up in any game I play. Whether it be 6-0 down, 5-0 down or whatever it may be, I keep fighting till the end.
'That's what I've done, really. I've come back off the floor. I was bottom of the league with not a point and now I've won a night and lost in a final of a night.'
With curious irony, there is speculation that Ronnie O'Sullivan is using a new titanium ferrule in the snooker World Championship, which means he can aim directly at the potting angle, rather than allowing for side spin on the cue ball.
Bunting added: 'I didn't know that. I like watching the snooker, to be honest.
'I know what'll be doing tonight, watching the highlights. I love watching snooker.
'Ronnie O'Sullivan's a master of snooker and if he's using titanium as well then it can only be good, can't it?'