Luke Littler is set to parade his world darts championship trophy at Old Trafford after declaring he would love to share his celebrations with his beloved Manchester United.

The 17-year-old United fan is keen to step out on the pitch in the coming weeks, with the home fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion on January 19 appearing to fit with his own playing schedule.

Sources within the club indicate he will be warmly welcomed, although plans have yet to be discussed in any detail. Littler has previously been a VIP guest at Old Trafford and also played darts with some of the players after his emergence in the sport over the past 13 months.

“I’d love to take it there [Old Trafford],” Littler said this weekend after his 7-3 demolition of Michael van Gerwen in the PDC final. “Just need to look at the fixtures and see who we’re playing. I saw Michael Smith [the 2023 champion] did it with rugby league at St Helens.”

Littler, who received a congratulatory message from David Beckham after lifting the title on Friday, has returned home to Warrington to “chill” after his remarkable feats at Alexandra Palace. Any plans to visit United will have to fit around the Bahrain Darts Masters on January 16-17. He says “I don’t want to” even think about darts practice while recuperating in Warrington and “I just want to chill out” before returning to action in 10 days.

The great Phil Taylor, whose 16 world titles record is now a target for Littler, has previously warned the teenager of “Manchester United syndrome”, with opponents now certain to raise their game against him.

Littler acknowledges he may now need to play even better to stay ahead of rivals. “I know within the first leg of a game that, whoever I’m playing, this is their cup final and I’m going to have be on it from the start,” he said.

As well as planning visits to United, Littler turns 18 this month, but says he has no plans for a big party as “it’s on a sluggish Tuesday”. “If they do surprise me, I’m not expecting much,” he said of family plans. “If there is a birthday celebration on the cards, then I’ll celebrate.”

Littler’s journey to stardom began when he picked up a magnetic dart for the first time when he was 18 months old. He earned ridicule from his friends when he ditched playing football for darts when he was nine, but has had the last laugh after taking his earnings to over £1.5 million in prize money in just 13 months – a figure that has been dwarfed by his income away from the game with a host of high-profile sponsorship deals.

He said: “I started off 18 months in a nappy on a magnetic board. But to keep at it. Obviously, when I’d say to my mates, I’ve got a darts competition, they would say ‘darts?’ Have you not seen it? But I’ve come a long way. Me and my family have come a long way.”