Bermuda Football Association will take a second look at their options regarding professionals Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne before this Sunday's crucial World Cup second qualifying round, second leg match at National Stadium.

Both players missed Sunday's 0-0 first leg draw in Antigua, and while coach Clyde Best says he will definitely request that Lightbourne return for this Sunday's match, it was thought he had already excused Goater who faces two important games with promotion-chasing Manchester City in the space of three days.

However, asked yesterday whether they would enforce the return of both players as they are entitled to under FIFA rules, BFA president Neville Tyrrell said the matter hadn't yet been discussed but would be when Best and head coach Robert Calderon returned from Antigua.

"The door is certainly open for that sort of discussion. We haven't discussed it yet with Mr. Best and Mr. Calderon and the other coaching staff and we certainly need to talk with them,'' said Tyrrell.

"I cannot categorically say what our position will be, but obviously this has to be something that needs to be discussed.'' Goater played for City on Saturday in a 1-1 draw against Grimsby while Lightbourne celebrated a 2-1 Stoke victory over Bristol City on Sunday in the final of the Auto Screens Windshield final at Wembley.

Second placed Manchester City are desperately pushing for the second automatic promotion spot from the First Division which would earn Goater the privilege of becoming the first local player to play in England's top flight since Best himself in the early-1970s.

City are scheduled to play Tranmere at home this Saturday and Portsmouth away next Monday as all English clubs face a busy Easter weekend.

Currently holding down seventh place in the Second Division, Lightbourne's Stoke are fighting to make the play-offs.

The first two in the table earn automatic promotion while the third to sixth place teams take part in the play-offs with the winner becoming the third team to be promoted.

Goater has already indicated that his loyalty lies with the club since it has been his long-term desire to play in the English Premier Division while Lightbourne has been more willing to leave the club versus country debate in the hands of the BFA and his club.

It's understood that Best and Calderon will have the final say on who will be required for this Sunday's match.

Meanwhile, Tyrrell said he was pleased Bermuda had come away from Antigua with a goalless draw.

"I am happy we didn't lose. From listerning to the game, it sounded as if we played defensively and I imagine that was done for a particular reason and that was so as not to lose away from home.

"I would expect there would be a different strategy used on Sunday when we play them the second time at National Stadium. In this match on home soil we are hoping for a positive result with a very large crowd coming out to rally behind the players.'' The president said he was also happy to finally see the way being paved for Bermuda's women's national team to play in an internatioal competition, namely the Caribbean Union Football Championships against the Bahamas which will precede Sunday's World Cup clash at 12.30 p.m.

"I've always said there was a need to push women's soccer and I admit that it has been slow in coming. But when CONCACAF came up with this we had no hesitation in entering,'' said Tyrrell.

"I would have liked to have seen something like this being offered some time back but unfortunately it just didn't materialise.'' Photos by Colin Cumberbatch On the move: Bermuda midfielder Tommy Carter (10) swivels past Antigua striker Derrick Edwards during Sunday's 0-0 World Cup draw at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, while (below) wingback Stanton Lewis (2) gets the ball clear to foil another home team attack.