Michael Smith hires Man City physio to help rescue career after 22mph scooter crash

Michael Smith has struggled since winning the world championship in 2023 and is now recovering from crashing an e-scooter at 22 miles-per-hour while racing his son

‘Bully Boy’ Michael Smith is working with Manchester City physio Ben Thompson to rescue his career after a 22mph e-scooter crash.

Former world champion Smith has dropped out of the top 16 just two years after he conquered Alexandra Palace with a perfect nine-dart leg. Axed from this year’s BetMGM Premier League line-up, he revealed he had been struggling with arthritis – the legacy of breaking both wrists in a fall as a teenager.

And his fitness problems were exacerbated when he damaged the acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder when he hit a pothole racing his son, Junior, on an electric scooter. Smith heads to Minehead for the UK Open, known as the FA Cup of darts, this weekend with few expectations of recapturing former glories immediately.

But he has rejected nearly all offers of exhibition appearances to try and regain the consistency which made him world No.1 before his form toppled off a cliff last year.

Smith, 34, revealed: “I’ve had cortisone injections in my wrist three weeks ago and my throwing hand is fine at the minute. It was a bit sore on the joint. First of all I threw a dart and it completely missed the board at home and hit the mural which I’ve just painted in my games room, so that was fun.

“But for the last week and a half I’ve been able to practise for four hours a day, which I’ve not been able to do for the last 12 weeks. I’ve had the arthritis for years. The worst thing about going to Minehead is because it’s so cold there and the cold gets to my wrist.

“I’ve also got an issue with the AC joint my right shoulder, but that was my own fault. I did that on Christmas Day – I bought the kids two scooters, I thought I’d race one of them, I went over what I thought was a puddle but it was actually a pothole.

“I’ve hit that at 22mph, straight over the handlebars and hit my shoulder into the floor. I couldn’t pick my arm up for seven weeks. I also had a big cut. Even now I’ve still got a bit of bone sticking out in my shoulder.

“I’ve got Man City physio Ben Thompson working with me. My wife Dagmara met Ben at the Manchester Premier League meeting a while back. It’s mad that he’ll come to work on me after doing Erling Haaland or Phil Foden ’s ’s legs and then be working on my back and shoulders!

“Ben says AC joint injuries are more common in rugby, and I’ve got a bit of bone that sticks out now, but I’m told that will never go away.”

Asked if he feared his career was over after his Christmas scooter crash and being left out of the Premier League cast, he insisted: “I’ve never feared anything. The pain isn’t great but there’s nothing that strong painkillers can’t help me to get through it.

“Obviously I was always going to get arthritis after breaking my wrists as a kid. I got left out of the Premier League in 2021. I made the World Championship final that year, so maybe it’s just the kick up the a*** I needed.

“I didn’t get picked, I’ve just got to work harder. The plan is to work harder this year. I’ve turned down almost every exhibition to work hard on my game.”