Michael van Gerwen misses UK Open with back injury

Michael van Gerwen has confirmed that he will miss this weekend's UK Open with the back injury that forced him out of the Premier League on Thursday.

The world No 1 revealed earlier this week that his absence from the Exeter leg of the Premier League was designed to give him time to get ready to defend his UK Open in Minehead.

However, after further treatment in the Netherlands Van Gerwen has been forced to confirm his absence from the first major of the year, which gets underway on Friday.

The brilliant Dutchman will now switch his focus to recovering from the injury, with the target now being next week's Premier League action in Glasgow

The Power moved top of the Premier League in Van Gerwen's absence on Thursday night, while Peter Wright produced a brilliant display to threaten MVG's world-record TV average of 123.40, Snakebite falling just short with 119.50.

Live Premier League Darts

Van Gerwen has won the UK Open for the last two year and his injury-enforced absence will have the rest of the field raring to go for the tournament known as the FA Cup of darts due to the nature of its free draw.

As a result of the withdrawal under Rule 3.7, no replacement will be made in the field for the Coral UK Open, and the third-round draw on Friday will feature 31 ties, with one player receiving a bye through to the fourth round.

The Premier League is back next week with night six from Glasgow live on Sky Sports 3 from 7pm on Thursday