WAYNE MARDLE reckons Luke Humphries’ Premier League struggles are starting to “infect” his game.
The World No2 has endured a frustrating campaign, failing to win a single night after 12 weeks and reaching just one final.
Wayne Mardle believes Luke Humphries’ Premier League struggles are “infecting” his game Credit: Alamy
Humphries has been enduring a frustrating campaign, failing to win a single night after 12 weeks Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Cool Hand by in the quarter-finals in Liverpool last week, leaving him sixth in the table and five points off the play-off spots.
Former pro believes the problems that started with his doubling have now spread into the rest of his performance.
He told Oche180: “It started off where his doubling went missing and there was no other negatives. He was playing beautifully winning on the .
“He was doing a lot right but just getting on the stages and not hitting doubles.
“Now his scoring game has gone just a little. In spells his doubling is returning but I just don’t think he was as comfortable as he was.
“He was looking like this smooth operator that he is. Now we are seeing a bit of headshaking.
“I think he maybe letting the winless streak infect him. I don’t think he should. It is easy for me to say because he knows at any moment.
“I have been accused of literally backing every week. I’m like it’s a matter of time — I am surely going to get it right once.
“He has not got it right at all and he has hardly reached a final, which I find bamboozling as well.”
Mardle insists Humphries still has the quality to turn things around and would not be shocked to see him dominate again soon.
He added: “I do think it turns around for the play-offs. When I say turn around I mean June and July, come the and Matchplay, that he hits the ground running there and walks away with one.
“If he was to annihilate everyone at the Matchplay who would be surprised? No one. What is surprising is he hasn’t won a week yet.
“But I think there is pressure on the Premier League players to perform. If they are not performing we do look in depth why they are not winning.
“I think personally he is not having that rub of the green and he is missing opportunities.
“When you are used to winning, when you carry on winning, I think there is little pressure because you win.
“When you are used to winning and you don’t win, that is when the pressure hits. I do think there is pressure on him. There has to be.
“He was expected to coast his way into the play-offs. There is still five weeks and he can go bang and win 15 points.
“I do believe he will win one or two weeks. There is pressure on — there is no doubt about it.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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