Left sided midfielder Craig Stewart will be playing his second season since his return to competitive football sometime last season.

The very talented Stewart found himself out of football for more than a year after being shot in the abdomen in just over two years ago.

Stewart, a player with real moxy, is also blessed with an amazing left foot. His crosses are usually flat and purposeful with a wicked curl that puts goalkeepers and defenders alike in serious trouble. Even more dangerous at times, is the firm shot that he can unleash at will – something teams always have to be wary of and, which should have troubled more teams already this season.

Of course, Stewart has to work himself back into the kind of form he was in before he was shot but, based on what I saw in his rain-affected game for Tivoli, where they beat Village United at home on Sunday, he’s not too far from that at this point.

Tivoli’s coach, Lenworth Hyde, no matter what you want to say about him, knows talent. The man known as ‘teacher’, knows all about Stewart’s ability and with him at the helm of this team, you can expect to see more of the player.

I had never seen Stewart before he started playing for Harbour View and my one thought the first time I saw him darting up and down the left flank in the absence of Robert ‘likkle bibi’ Scarlett was, diamond in the rough.

Not long after that, a good game for Stewart was synonymous with a good game for Harbour View. In fact, I was very surprised when the ‘Stars of the East’ allowed the left-footer to leave for ‘greener pastures’.

At Tivoli, Stewart soon commanded a place in the starting line-up and the eye of every team he played against.

On one occasion, I can recall, when striker, Luton Shelton was still at Harbour View, it was they who felt the pepper of Stewart’s left foot and his athletic ability.

Since then there hasn’t been much to talk about, but the fact that he is back playing football speaks to that moxy that I spoke about. I’m not sure if he will ever get back to the level he was at just before he was shot but if he does, Tivoli, who have just earned their first win in the DPL will be the better for it.