DALE JENNINGS is moving back into the limelight this week – and closer to a return to Tranmere’s front line.

The exciting teenage prospect stepped back into action following a six-week layoff with a groin injury by scoring twice in the reserves on Wednesday.

Jennings is likely to find his name on the team sheet for the League One encounter with Colchester United at Prenton Park tomorrow. And on Sunday he will head to the Football League awards in London, where he is one of three young players nominated in the category for League One apprentice of the year.

Jennings’ nomination acknowledges his spectacular progress after breaking into the Rovers first-team earlier this season.

The Liverpool-born youngster’s performances brought a host of scouts from Premier League and Championship clubs to Prenton Park and resulted in at least one firm offer from the top flight club before the close of the January transfer window.

However, Jennings progress was checked after 23 games by the groin injury and he last figured in the 1-1 draw with Rochdale back in February.

Manager Les Parry said: “Dale played for just over an hour on Wednesday night.

“He worked hard and did well. He is on the trail to get back in the first-team. We took him off because the injury was feeling a little bit tight.”

Parry acknowledges Jennings is a player “who can turn a game and do something special” and there is pressure to include him in a side that has not won for seven games.

But Tranmere risk losing their potential match-winner for another chunk of the season if the injury flares again, so a more cautious approach could see Jennings start his first comeback game on the substitutes bench.

Jennings faces competition from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Southampton and George Baldock of MK Dons for the apprentice of the year award.