James Wade does not think Luke Littler should have made himself available for this year's Premier League.
Wade claims the teenager needed to 'keep his head down' after his record-breaking run at the World Darts Championship.
Littler was picked as a wildcard for the Premier League less than 24 hours after he lost the World Championship final in early January.
He has joined seven of the best players in the world for the competition which runs for 17 consecutive weeks, starting in Cardiff tonight.
James Wade believes Luke Littler should have avoided the Premier League
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Littler will play Luke Humphries on the opening night in a repeat of their clash at Alexandra Palace.
Humphries wasn't in last year's Premier League line-up, failing to automatically qualify and or earn a wildcard spot.
The 28-year-old didn't let that snub affect him and heads into this year's tournament as world No 1.
Humphries has won the last three majors, triumphing at the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts before his maiden world title.
Wade believes his absence from the Premier League allowed him to stay out of the limelight and says Littler should have adopted the same approach.
He told the Daily Star: "In truth, that’s what probably should have happened to Luke Littler.
"A huge tournament in the limelight should have been followed by a year of keeping his head down, picking up ranking points, learning about his game, and gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with.
"But Littler has already become the PDC’s biggest asset and they want to parade him around the country - and in the case of the World Series, the globe - while they have him.
"I will caveat by saying that he might revel in it, lap it up and finish top of the top four – but ultimately that will come at a cost further down the line."
Wade believes Littler's participation in the Premier League could see him struggle to earn enough ranking points to qualify for other events in the future.
He added: "The first major one will be his ability to qualify for events.
"It is all well and good being in exhibitions like the World Series and the Premier League - by the way, I would have bitten your hand off to be in them - but what he needs now is ranking points.
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Luke Littler will compete in his first Premier League campaign
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"It will be slightly strange if ends up unqualified for big ranking events because of the stresses and strains of the Premier League.
"All that said, it will certainly be exciting to find out how it all pans out."
Littler, meanwhile, is in a buoyant mood ahead of his debut in Cardiff and insists he doesn't need advice from fellow players.
He said: "I don't really want any advice off any of these players.
James Wade says the Premier League could cost Luke Littler in the future
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"I know they've been here and done it, but I'm only interested in myself.
"When I'm in the venue, I just keep myself to myself and do my practice routines. I don't need to interact with any of the players."
