Caribbean Cup qualifiers next month.

The Stoke striker, who played for the Island this week against DC United at the National Stadium, said he hoped his club would allow him to make a quick trip home again in early May.

Stoke are battling for promotion from the English Second Division and their last scheduled league fixture is on Saturday, May 8, at home to Walsall.

They are unlikely to gain automatic promotion by finishing in the top two, but a top six spot would earn them a place in the play-offs and extend their season.

Lightbourne's international strike partner Shawn Goater is in a similar position with Manchester City, who face York on May 8.

Before both clubs have finished their regular season, a four-nation Caribbean Cup qualifying tournament will open in Bermuda.

The competition, for the right to progress to the finals in Trinidad and Tobago, will involve three matches at the National Stadium against Cuba, the Cayman Islands and Bahamas.

Bermuda Football Association have fixed the matches for May 5, 7 and 9. Stoke and City play their last two league fixtures on Saturdays, May 1 and 8.

Lightbourne had hoped the tournament would fit inbetween the end of the regular season and the play-offs, so the English-based strikers could team up as they did on Tuesday night.

"Hopefully something can be arranged so we can play in the Cup games,'' said Lightbourne.

"I know it's three games, but if Shawn and me could be here for just one of them, it might make the difference between qualifying and not qualifying.'' Both strikers were playing in the DC game between League fixtures, so it is possible they could be released again to play in the Tuesday night qualifier.

But unless the clubs' promotion challenges have collapsed by then, it would be unlikely that either player would be cleared to play for Bermuda in the Thursday game, two days before the final Second Division fixtures.

Lightbourne felt the DC game had been a useful exercise for him and his team-mates, despite the 2-0 defeat by the classy Major League Soccer team.

"There was no lack of commitment from the players, everybody's attitude was good and we just have to look to build on that,'' said Lightbourne.

"We need to reflect on the game and learn from the way they played. They did the simple things so well, like playing the ball early. "It's not that they were putting more energy into the game or anything, they were just making it look easy by seeing the next pass before the ball even came to them.'' National team coach Robert Calderon looked forward to the qualifiers and felt his team had been bolstered by playing DC.

"I'm hoping that people will give us an opportunity to build on what took place on Tuesday and support in the May tournament, recognising that when we play teams like DC United, these types of results are realistic.

"This is five games we've played this year and the quality of opponent has gradually got better. We did well against Antigua and Denmark and in DC, we were playing the best club side in this region and we did not embarrass ourselves.'' Tough challenge: Kyle Lightbourne feels the weight of a tackle by DC United's Carlos Llamosa during Tuesday night's match at National Stadium.