Bowlers beware...star St. George's batsman Clay Smith is back and it's not just for a vacation.

Smith, who plays for Benwell in England's Northumberland League, returned to the Island on Thursday and said that it was his aim to boost the defending Premier League champions who have struggled so far.

The early return is actually due to Smith and his girlfriend expecting a child and he will return to Benwell immediately following Cup Match.

When asked if he was looking forward to donning the `whites' for the east enders Smith said: "Definitely! I've looked at the schedule and St. George's seem to have a fairly easy schedule coming up and should be able to do well.

"I'll have to get acclimatised and having to adapt to the wickets here may be a bit of a problem.'' However, it may be an easier transition than ordinarily assumed, with opposition such as Nationals and PHC appearing on the fixtures calendar in the next two weeks.

Smith returned having recently recorded a dubious first, that being his initial duck in England, falling to the first ball of his team's innings against Percy Main.

The failure followed a splendid early run of form where runs flowed from the willow of the early order batsmen -- he usually opens the innings for Benwell -- to the tune of 850 from 18 innings.

"I was in a groove for a while, up until the last two weeks,'' said Smith, who has two centuries and seven half-centuries included in his total. "And once you get into a groove it's hard to get out and the runs keep coming.'' Indeed, Smith's talent is being recognised, with the 23-year-old said to be under scrutiny by an unnamed club in the Durham League, a notch higher than Northumberland.

"A club has shown interest and I've talked to the captain about it,'' said Smith, who is keen on the idea of becoming a full-fledged professional. "When I get back they will be monitoring my progress.

"If I go there it would be on a pro basis. They have a lot of Jamaican and West Indian players already playing there.'' The names of all-rounder Nehemiah Perry, and batsmen Philo Wallace and Stuart Williams were mentioned, however, Smith realised that he would have to take care of business at the lower level first before aspiring to such lofty heights.

"I've had a pretty good bit of success, but it could be better, I'm happy with the way things have gone so far.

"Out there you always have somebody out looking. Every innings is a valuable one as you never know who's watching.

"Most of the teams are of an even standard so that every week provides competitive games.'' Also intimated was a desire to recruit other young Bermudians to possibly take up apprenticeships in England.

While Smith has returned to bask under the glorious Bermuda sunshine -- and heat -- left behind is local team-mate, but overseas rival Dean Minors, who continues to turn out for Tynedale.

The stylish wicket-keeper, who was voted Cup Match's Most Valuable Player last year and fell agonisingly short of his first English ton just over a week ago, is not expected back until mid-July.

TOGETHER AGAIN -- St. George's team-mates Clay Smith, right, and Dexter Smith are about to be re-united.