Jedi on Premier League mission

Just one more thing before the World Cup ...

SOCCEROOS skipper Mile Jedinak and Aston Villa begin their quest for a return to the English Premier League this weekend when they face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Villa, which finished fourth in the Championship table, faces Boro, which was fifth, in the first of a two-leg playoff semi-final tomorrow.

One of the giants of the English game, Villa is looking to get back into the top-flight two years after its ignominious relegation.

The sides meet for the return match at Villa Park on Wednesday, with the winner to face either Derby or Fulham in the final at Wembley on May 26, a match estimated to be worth $240 million to the successful team.

Fulham faces sixth-placed Derby today at Pride Park, with the second leg taking place at Craven Cottage taking place next Tuesday.

Jedinak will be hoping to repeat the achievement of his Socceroos midfield teammate Aaron Mooy and Huddersfield Town, which beat Reading on penalties to go up last year.

The 33-year-old, who’ll head straight into a pre-World Cup camp in Turkey as soon as Villa’s season is decided, has tasted success before in a playoff final back in 2013 when he captained Crystal Palace to the EPL following a 1-0 win over Watford.

Jedinak has been a regular fixture under Steve Bruce since recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him for the opening three months of the season, and has even been used as a centre-back in recent games to give veteran skipper John Terry a break.