Phil Taylor hails Raymond van Barneveld return

Van Barneveld beat Taylor to become world champion in 2007

World champion Phil Taylor has said he is delighted to get the chance to renew his rivalry with Raymond van Barneveld.

The Dutchman lost 18-12 to Taylor in the final of the World Matchplay in Blackpool and hit a nine-dart finish on the opening night of the tournament.

"I'm so pleased that he's back," Taylor, 49, told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's a great player, he's had two months off, he's getting his head right and he says he hasn't practised but I don't believe that for a second."

Van Barneveld had not played in a major PDC event since the end of the Premier League group stages in May.

The five-time world champion took some time away from darts after a series of poor performances, and followed his nation's footballers at the World Cup in South Africa.

Taylor and Van Barneveld will be among the 32-man field taking part in the European Championships, which get under way in Dinslaken on Thursday.

Defending champion Taylor plays another Dutchman, Co Stompe, in the first round in Germany on the opening night, while Van Barneveld is up against Stoke-on-Trent's Andy Hamilton on Friday evening.