Nodley Wright | Jamaica Gleaner 

The smile on Jermie Lynch’s face when he scored Harbour View’s second goal to give them a 2-1 win over Barbican at the UWI Bowl in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) was there for all to see.

This was his second goal in two games and it meant a return to happy times.

The past 10 months or more have been some of the toughest for the 23-year-old, who not only lost his mother, but was unable to find release in the thing he loves, football, and to make a living. The forward suffered a ligament tear in his toe and was unable to even wear shoes for 9 months.

“Any win is a win, so if it comes messy or it comes clean, we have to be happy for the three points,” a relieved Lynch said at the end of the game. It was one they were lucky to escape with all three points as Barbican missed numerous chances.

“I feel happy about my performance because I had not played football for nine months, so it was not easy to be playing regularly with under one month’s pre-season training.”

Not 100 per cent

“As you can see, I am not 100 per cent, but I am getting back there. It is now two goals from two games, so that is a good return, so I am happy with that,” Lynch said.

His readiness to play at his best will improve with time, Lynch said, as he is working hard at it.

“Without football you can feel physically fit, but it is going to take a while mentally for you to come back. I need to get 100 per cent fit physically and mentally, and I am putting in the work,” he explained.

Prior to getting the toe injury, Lynch played professionally in El Salvador and he has all intentions of getting another break overseas.

“I just have to put myself out there by scoring goals to see if I can get another contract. So my main aim right now is to keep scoring goals and play well consistently and wait and see,” the former Bridgeport High School student said.

When playing at his best, Lynch has been included in the national squad, and with the Caribbean Cup coming up next month, he probably would have been considered had he been in form.

National call-up

“Whenever you are in the national set-up, that says a lot. No normal player really gets a national call-up. You have to be doing something. I know what I have to do to go back there. I set a platform for myself; I set a task for myself to go back to what I was doing back then to see if I can get a national call.

“Right now, I am not really focused on the national team. I am focusing on getting goals, and once I am getting goals, the national team will come, so I just have to keep getting the goals and put myself out there,” said the six-footer.

For the rest of the season Lynch said he would keep working with the rest of his teammates, some of whom are new, to improve their individual and team play as they work their way up the league table.

“The squad is made up of a new set of players out there, so it is going to take time for us to really gel. We are doing pretty okay, I can say and lot more could be done – or I will say a lot more should be done – but it will take time. It will take time to see,” he offered.