• PDC World Championship

Lloyd: I've still got fire in my belly for 'big' 2014

Colin Lloyd lost out to Beau Anderson in the first round of the PDC World Championship © Getty Images

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Colin Lloyd is now ready to put an end to an "indifferent" year on the darts circuit and admitted he would not change his lifestyle as a result of moving down the PDC rankings.

Lloyd tasted first round defeat to Beau Anderson at the PDC World Championship on Tuesday, but is keen to turn his fortunes around in the new season.

'Jaws' was diagnosed with diabetes in 2008, something which he said he expected would affect his form and, as a result, see him drop down the world rankings.

Lloyd is a former world number one having enjoyed major success between 2004 and 2005, most notably beating Phil Taylor to win the World Grand Prix and checking out 170 to claim the World Matchplay title.

Having turned 40 earlier this year, Lloyd is now focusing on turning his form around and believes 2014 will be a huge year if he is to improve on his current ranking of world number 24.

"It's been a very indifferent year," Lloyd told ESPN. "One minute it seems like everything is going well then the next it's a bit bad, really. I don't want to sound like Jimmy White but practicing is lovely; it's on the matchboard that I just can't seem to put it together.

"It's going to be a big year. I've been creeping down the rankings over the years and I've always been nestled near the top. But things change in life, I'm not getting any younger "I've been playing darts since I was a 10-year-old kid - every day. So there's wear and tear on my body. My shoulder hurts, my back hurts, my knee hurts, my foot hurts, my finger cramps up - and people say 'you've got to look after yourself' but that's a load of rubbish. That's just wear and tear.

"However, I've still got that fire in my belly and I've still got that stubbornness about me and I feel that I can still be at the top. So next year I'll be making that push to get there - somewhere where I think I belong.

"It hasn't come as shock [moving down the rankings] really. A lot of it kicked in really in 2008, I knew there was something wrong with me and it transpired that I've got diabetes. Sometimes I have little moments when I don't want them, but that's just part of life now. That's the lifestyle that I've led, which I wouldn't change for the world.

"People say if you could do it all again, what would you change - nothing. You're learning every day. But I've been creeping down the rankings but hopefully next year I'll dig my heels in and it'll be the end of my little slide. I'll try and get myself up there."

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