Devonshire Cougars? dynamic midfielder Domico Coddington could be sidelined through injury for up to six weeks, can reveal.

And the 2005 Bermuda Football Association MVP?s absence could spell disaster for the Big Cats? bid for a second Premier Division championship in three seasons.

Coddington hobbled off injured during Cougars? January 14 league clash with Boulevard at the Den. And subsequent scans revealed the 23-year-old wing-wizard had sustained a chipped bone in his right foot.

The former Canadian professional footballer is now having ultra sound administered to his preferred shooting foot.

?Obviously we would love to have someone like Domico in the team, but his unavailability also presents opportunity for others players to try and fill his shoes,? Cougars? coach Shawn Smith told .

?I think something like this was bound to happen given the amount of attention Domico receives...he gets kicked up every game and so the risk of him getting injured is always there.

?He?s got a chipped bone and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.?

This means Coddington could miss Cougars? crucial league matches against PHC, Dandy Town and possibly Somerset Trojans on February 25, along with next month?s FA Cup quarter-final match against 1983-84 champions Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval.

In any case, Smith is confident he has ample resources to fill the void left by Coddington?s absence.

?It?s just a matter of the players producing really,? he said.

Coddington, who has undergone trials with USL club Atlanta Silverhawks and Italian Serie C club AS Acireale in the past, has proven to be a vital spoke in Cougars? wheel following his transfer from North Village in 2002-03.

?He has more or less carried us as far as scoring goals for most of the season,? Smith added.

Coddington presently has six goals to his credit while team captain, Kwame Steede, has seven.

Smith is optimistic his star player will make a speedy recovery.

?He is religious as far as getting himself back together. Domico is doing therapy and whatever else he has to do. And although he isn?t playing at the moment, he still turns up to watch training sessions,? he added.

Coddington, meanwhile, seems to be taking things all in his stride.

?I?m confident my team can win without me,? the former Oakville Blue Devil said.

?Somebody just stood on my foot. I had X Rays and now I?m having ultra sound and hopefully I can return to playing as soon as possible.?

Cougars, who have a game in hand over division leaders Boulevard, are away to Paget Lions at White Hill Field on Sunday.

The Martonmere Cup champions hammered Paget 5-0 last November at the Den, but could provide the Lions with a tougher proposition this around based on the basement-dweller?s determined performance against league leaders Boulevard last weekend.