Third Division club Scarborough -- though it could be another two months before he signs a contract.

The manager of promotion-seeking Scarborough, Ray McHale, confirmed to The Royal Gazette yesterday that the work permit application had been approved, though the club was still awaiting confirmation in writing.

"The last I heard the work permit had been approved, though we've only heard verbally,'' said the manager. "We're waiting to tie up some things at this end.'' McHale is eager to have the lanky striker join the club in their push for promotion, though he accepts it will be another seven weeks before Lightbourne will join the club.

Lightbourne will not sign the six-month contract the club has offered him until after Bermuda's final World Cup qualifying group B match against Canada here in Bermuda on December 6.

"I'm hoping Kyle will arrive soon after that date in December,'' McHale said.

"At the moment we're doing very well, we just beat Coventry in the Coca-Cola (League) Cup. We're looking to Kyle to add to what we've got.

"Kyle enjoyed it here when he came (on trial) and we're glad everything's going well. It will be most pleasing to see him, the quicker the better, though we understand Bermuda comes first.'' Scarborough are presently fifth in the league and, like Shawn Goater's Second Division Rotherham United, are pushing for promotion from their division. They will meet Plymouth in the next round of the League Cup. "The oldest player here is 24 and we've improved from last year,'' McHale pointed out.

Reports are Lightbourne could figure almost immediately in Scarborough's promotion push, probably linking up with Tommy Mooney and Darren Foreman in the attack. "I'm looking forward to going out there and joining up with the team,'' said 24-year-old Lightbourne yesterday. "I'm very delighted about it and I want to thank the people here in Bermuda for pushing it (application).'' Lightbourne has until the end of the season to impress the manager if he is to be offered a longer contract. "I know I have the ability to match them skill-wise,'' he said.

"I have a good shot, which I think impressed them the most. The pace is a lot faster but I'll just have to keep moving. The fitness I was doing out there made me a lot sharper.'' Much-travelled Barnsley striker David Currie was signed by Rotherham yesterday on loan to replace Goater for the next two months. Currie, who turns 30 next month, started with Middlesborough and has also had spells with Darlington, Barnsley, Nottingham Forest and Oldham before returning to Barnsley.

Such is the competition for places in the Bermuda team that big striker Phillip Clarke will be relieved to avoid being cut from the 16 for Sunday when coach Gary Darrell finalises his team today.

Clarke, 25, is still recovering from a foot injury but even without that injury he realises it is going to be difficult breaking up the front line pair of Kyle Lightbourne and cousin Elliott Jennings (with whom he is sharing a room at Warwick Camp).

The pair impressed coach Gary Darrell with the way they combined in the team's last two matches against the United States Olympic team and Antigua and Darrell looks likely to keep the pair together with Paul Cann operating wide on the right.

It was Clarke's flash of brilliance as a substitute in the home match with Haiti that enabled Shawn Goater to score the only goal of the match. It is because of that goal that Bermuda are still in the World Cup.

Clarke has been unable to gain a spot for himself, even with Goater now playing a more deeper role just behind the main striker. But he is not complaining.

"I'm looking forward to just getting into the starting 16 if possible and doing my best,'' said the powerful North Village striker who had a trial with Coventry City in the summer along with another Bermuda international, Neil Paynter.

"We have players who are capable of stepping in at any given time. It's a matter of players who are not in the starting team staying focussed and being able to step foward when called upon. Only 11 can play at one time and if you get your chance you have to do your best.

"Just being part of the team and seeing the team do well is pleasing in itself. We're all playing for the same cause.'' Clarke, in some people's minds, is the perfect centre-forward; big, strong, aggressive and with the ability to dribble through a defence, as he showed against the Haitains at the National Stadium.

"People have their own opinions but I'm under the impression I still have a lot of work to do on my game,'' Clarke said. "But given the opportunity I feel I can go out and produce the goods.'' Clarke expects the standard of Bermuda's opponents to be higher in this round than what was seen in the last round. "It's going to be tough with the amount of professionals they have playing in these rounds,'' he said.

"With Shawn Goater back it helps the morale of the players. He is an inspiration to the team and is doing quite well in England. His presence helps the team keep focussed on what we have ahead of us.'' KYLE LIGHTBOURNE PHILLIP CLARKE -- Biding his time.