LOSING luggage is never ideal, but it's particularly problematic when you're a darts player and the missing suitcase happens to have your darts in!

It's been a rather stressful few days for Chris Dobey. The Bedlington-born thrower arrived in Germany last week for four days of playing, only to discover his baggage hadn't touched down with him.

That meant not only having to borrow darts from fellow player Ross Smith but also having to wear a pair of Joe Cullen's trousers!

Dobey returned to the UK on Wednesday but such is the hectic life of a darts player, he has two days back home before flying back out to Germany on Friday for more competitions. He comes back to the UK next Monday but his return is short-lived, for 48 hours later he'll be flying back to Berlin for a Premier League night.

It's a frantic and tiring schedule but for Dobey the perks of life as a professional player outweigh the difficulties - and this Thursday night will be as good as it gets for the 32-year-old, who returns home for the Newcastle leg of the Premier League.

Dobey has only ever played on the big stage in his home city once, when he was a 'contender' in 2019. Now, he's one of the eight league players, evidence of his rise over the last few years. He's now 21 in the world rankings and booked his Premier League spot after winning the Masters in January, his first major.

The morning after that brilliant Masters victory, Dobey - a Newcastle United season ticket holder - received a text message from a certain Alan Shearer.

"I woke up with a text message saying congratulations on winning your first big one. I couldn't believe it," he tells the Northern Echo.

"I didn't believe it at first, then I put it on social media and he retweeted it and liked it so I thought it must be him! He followed me on social media as well, which was a bonus."

It turned into a pretty memorable week for Dobey. In the space of eight days, he watched Newcastle win their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton, went to Milton Keynes and won the Masters and then made a stunning start to his Premier League campaign, winning the night in Belfast.

Although he has a season ticket, Dobey doesn't get to all Newcastle's games because of his playing schedule and as he looks to climb into the top 16 of the rankings, he can't afford to miss competitions. But he made an exception at the end of February, pulling out of a Euro Tour qualifier so he could be at Wembley.

"I didn't know when that opportunity would come around again so I couldn't miss it," he says.

Newcastle fans suffered Wembley heartbreak but Dobey hopes the city is celebrating a home win at the Utilita Arena tonight.

There might not have been quite the clamour for tickets as there was to see Newcastle at Wembley, but Dobey has still been inundated with messages ahead of his return home.

"You get a few hangers-on," he joked.

"I've got family and friends who support me all the time, they'll be coming.

"A few of my friends who I play local league with will be there. A couple of friends who are going through a tough time, I've tried to cheer them up by getting them tickets."

There'll be some Newcastle players in the crowd as well.

"I speak to Sean and Matty (Longstaff) quite a lot," he says.

"They love their darts. Harrison Ashby loves his darts so I've sent him a couple of sets. He loves throwing. Being a big Newcastle fan, being in touch with them is decent."

The Northern Echo:

As soon as Dobey's Premier League place was confirmed, the Newcastle date was the one he highlighted.

"Everybody knows this is the big one for me, playing in front of a home crowd," said Dobey.

"It's going to be surreal. I have a lot of friends and family there. Any game playing in front of a home crowd with them on your side is something special, so I'm going to enjoy every moment."

Dobey's 2019 walk-on to Local Hero remains one of the great Premier League entrances and it'll be getting another airing on Thursday night.

He says: "It has to be done. Everyone knows how much Local Hero means to myself and the city. It went down a treat last time so it has to be done.

"Playing Newcastle as a contender is without a doubt one of the highlights of my career so far. Just hearing Local Hero and (MC) John McDonald when he called me out as 'one of your own'. It was something special. To get that support and hearing the fans, it was special and I can't wait to relive that moment."

After winning the opening night, Dobey suffered a string of Premier League defeats - despite playing well - but bounced back last week with a win over world champion Michael Smith before becoming the first player in Premier League history to whitewash Michael van Gerwen. Though narrowly beaten by Gerwyn Price in the final, it was a confidence builder for Dobey ahead of the Newcastle date.

"It gave me a lot of confidence. I've been playing well the last couple of weeks, just not getting the results," he says.

"I've been telling people I can't keep playing that well and not getting results. Thankfully last Thursday showed. I'm delighted with the way I'm playing, I'll hopefully go one better this week.

"The way I'm playing in the Premier League, I want to push for the top four (and qualification into finals night). Fingers crossed I get a few decent results starting Thursday and who knows."