But it has been a disappointing campaign for the seven-time champion. He has been knocked off his perch by Littler and Humphries and embarrassed in his recent matches with the top two players.

Lloyd believes that Van Gerwen no longer strikes fear into his opponents. He told talkSPORT: “There’s just far too many inconsistencies that’s crept into his game over a period of time and unfortunately for him it’s getting a little bit often now. I’m gonna say it like this he’s lost that fear factor now.

“He isn’t the once-dominant player that he was. I’m certainly not putting him down cause he’s a class act and he’s a class fella. But you’ve got the likes of Littler, Humphries, Aspinall. Gezzy Price and people away from the Premier League at the moment like Jonny Clayton that all want a piece of the action.

“It gets tougher and tougher and tougher when you have so many people taking chunks out of you. Is it catching up with Michael? I personally think it is a little bit.”

Van Gerwen has not won a single Premier League night after 14 weeks and his record against Littler and Humphries makes for worrying reading.

He has lost 12 of his last 15 meetings with Humphries and been defeated by Littler in eight of their previous 10 matches. Lloyd has claimed that time has taken its toll on Van Gerwen, but that he should be proud of what he has achieved.

Lloyd added: “He’s got nothing to feel bad about. He shouldn’t feel ashamed about anything. It happens to all of us at some point or another. He’s been around playing since 16 or 17 years old. He won the Winmau World Masters at 17 years old.

“He’s been on tour now for 19 years. It takes a lot out of you and he’s achieved an awful lot in those 19 years. Listen it sounds like I’m talking that now he is done. I’m not talking like that whatsoever. But this year in the Premier League has been a real battle for him.”