SCOTT Mitchell led England's men to glory in the British International Championships – and then admitted he felt an "added pressure" captaining his country.

Bransgore's Mitchell was charged with revitalising a Three Lions team that suffered the ignominy of claiming the wooden spoon in last year's competition.

And he met the task head on, serving up a man-of-the match display to inspire his country to a 12-0 demolition of Wales, before they completed a stunning weekend's work in Bradford by routing Scotland 10-2.

Mitchell told the Daily Echo: "To be captain and win the title was very special, especially after what happened last year.

"You are playing purely for the pride of your country, so you have to lead them, make sure your team-mates are belting out the national anthem and motivate them to go on stage and perform.

"But, at the same time, you cannot allow all of that to take away from your own game, because you do not want to be asking the players to go out there and do something you cannot do yourself.

"That does bring an added pressure. And the team game is harder to play anyway, because if you miss a double for yourself you can live with that, if you miss it for another 11 players who have battled all year to get in the side... that is a different feeling altogether."

Mitchell's match-high 95.61 three-dart average propelled him to a 4-2 victory over Wales's Mark Layton, as England whitewashed the Welsh for the first time in the competition's 38-year history.

And the 46-year-old completed a personally productive tournament by brushing aside Stevie Plank 4-0 to put the seal on his team's comprehensive triumph over Scotland – despite entering that match knowing he had a lot to live up to.

"I was apprehensive going into the weekend because I performed poorly at the Hal Open in Holland last week," continued Mitchell.

"To hit the highest average in the team against Wales really got me going, then against Scotland we were already 9-2 up but (team-mate) Paul Hogan hit a nine-darter in the match before me, so it was a case of ‘follow that’.

"I managed to do that and I was very honoured to lift the trophy for England."

Mitchell returns to individual competition at the Bruges Open in the middle of next month – but before then will visit a consultant to discover whether the torn meniscus in his right knee requires surgery.

"The consultant I have already seen says the meniscus is torn right through," added Mitchell.

"But I want to get a second opinion to check that an operation is an absolute necessity. I am just reluctant to have it done until I am totally sure it is the right thing to do.

"I have a lot going through my mind about the whole situation!"