SCOTT Mitchell welcomed retired international footballer Rafael van der Vaart's reported switch to darts – but warned: "It is a very different mindset for him."

The former Tottenham and Real Madrid talent is set to compete alongside the Dorset county star at Saturday's Denmark Open in Esbjerg.

Van der Vaart retired from football in November and last month announced his plan to enter the BDO event.

Discussing the 36-year-old's change of sport, Mitchell told the Daily Echo: "I can only imagine he is a tidy player and really enjoys darts. I am sure when he goes to play his first game he will have a whole crowd behind him having a good look at what he is playing like.

"For a footballer you have 10 others you can blame if it goes wrong. With darts, it is about you and your bottle. If you bottle it that day, everybody knows you bottled it because there is nothing stopping you other than yourself.

"It is a very different mindset for him but we welcome it. Anyone from another sport who wants to come and have a go is always welcomed."

Capped 109 times by the Netherlands, van der Vaart in the past has shared the oche with three-time PDC World Darts Championship winner and countryman Michael van Gerwen.

However, Mitchell, who will defend his Denmark Masters title on Sunday, insisted this did not count for much.

"I could go ride in speedway with Nicolai Klindt or Chris Holder but that does not make me as good as them," said Mitchell.

"It sounds very negative but in darts you need to be able to do it yourself – there is no other person to do it for you.

"Only time will tell but I wish him luck and hope he does well.

"I am sure he can do it because if he didn't feel he could perform and do something, I don't think he would enter.

"To compete in a world ranking tournament is not like going to your local pub, up the Dog and Duck, entering a tournament of four pints of beer for the winner.

"We are talking about an international ranked event and he must be able to play, otherwise he would not be going to Denmark."

Scotty Dog won the Denmark Open in 2017 and admitted previous successes made it a venue he was keen to return to.

"It is has been a good stomping ground for me," said Mitchell. "I had a nightmare in 2016 when I went out in the first round but in the following two years I won something.

"It is a place close to my heart. There are always special wins and they remain special as time goes on."