North Village?s Jemieko Jennings could see Premier Division action again in the near future.

The Reds midfield wizard and son of former Village winger Garret (Punchy) Dill has not been involved in a single Premier Division match this season due to a bothersome knee injury which required minor surgery late last year.

But indications are that Jennings, 24, is fast on the mend having featured in Village?s Reserve Division match seven days ago against PHC at Bernard Park. And should the diminutive player suit up for the club?s Premier side at this crucial stage of the season he could provide the Reds with the perfect boost as they gun for a third league championship in five seasons and seventh overall.

Village currently lead the Premier Division by four points over nearest rivals Devonshire Cougars, who have a game in hand, and Somerset Trojans.

But whether or not Jennings will play a part in his team?s push for league glory hinges on his ability to regain match fitness, something the player has been quietly trying to achieve behind the scenes, with only a handful of games remaining in the 2005-06 campaign.

Village are at home to defending champions Cougars tomorrow in a match that could go a long way towards deciding the title.

?I wouldn?t rule Jemieko out of making a return at this stage of the season. He?s been out for almost a whole season now and at the moment we are just gauging him on a week to week basis,? said Village player/coach Dwayne (Streaker) Adams.

In a short period of time Jennings has carved out a niche for himself, carrying on his father?s legacy at Bernard Park.

In 2004, Jennings scored Village?s winner in extra-time against Dandy Town in the Martonmere Cup final played at Somerset Cricket Club.

Village and Town are scheduled to meet in next month?s Friendship Trophy final at the National Sports Centre (NSC). The Reds also defeated Hornets in the 2002 FA Cup final at the NSC.

?He (Jennings) did play on Saturday to test himself out and afterwards we did have a chat,? Adams continued. ?He has trained lightly on his own but hasn?t been on a full run with the team yet.

?But it?s all up to him because we really don?t want to race him back into the team only to have him re-injure himself and lose his services for the next year or so.?

Queried about tomorrow?s crucial match-up with Cougars ? the two clubs? first meeting since last month?s Dudley Eve Champions Cup final at Wellington Oval ? the former Bermuda international ?keeper and United Soccer League (USL) professional opted to keep his cards close to his chest.

?We don?t intend to change anything at this stage of the game,? he said. ?We?ve had a particular system that we have adhered to all season and so if it isn?t broken then why fix it??

Meanwhile, Village stalwart Kentoine Jennings admitted his younger cousin had been a miss this season.

?A player of Jemieko?s quality is always going to be a miss. But the way we have been playing lately I don?t really think he has been as big miss as he was at the beginning of the season when we were trying to find the right combinations,? Jennings said.

?Jemieko brings so much into the game and he is one of those players you always have to watch. But we also have a lot of other players who always seem to rise to the occasion.?

As for tomorrow?s potential league decider against the defending champions, Jennings said: ?It?s definitely going to come down to the wire and we just have to come prepared to play and work for 90 minutes. It doesn?t take a rocket scientist to figure out what needs to be done.

?We just have to come prepared to get the job done and hope that everyone is on the same page. We just have to show up with the right attitude.?