English clubs Manchester City and Stoke City could be without their Bermudian strikers Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne for as many as five crucial matches in the last two months of the season.

The first three rounds of the Caribbean Zone World Cup qualifying are scheduled for March, April and May, during the most critical stage of the season in England.

And if Bermuda are successful against the British Virgin Islands on March 4 and 18, they will advance to the second round against Guyana or Antigua on April 2 and 16. Success there would mean a third round, first leg fixture on May 6 or 7, which is the final day of the English season.

Manchester City manager Joe Royle is already concerned about losing Australian defender Danny Tiatto after this weekend's match against Nottingham Forest because of a tournament in Chile.

Goater and English under-21 goalkeeper Nicky Weaver have international matches in March, which will provide more worries for Royle who is anxious not to lose his key players.

"In the case of Shaun Goater, and indeed Nicky Weaver, we cannot even assess the situation until the forms arrive, so we will have to wait and see,'' said the manager on the City website this week after returning from a mid-season break with the team.

Technical Director Clyde Best reiterated Bermuda Football Association's position this week, saying that having all the professionals available was vital to the team's success.

"For us to progress we need our best players,'' said Best, himself a former professional in England.

"We're no different from any other country that would want their best players playing in the World Cup qualifiers.'' Depending on the result Bermuda achieves in BVI, Bermuda may not demand the release of Goater or Lightbourne for the second leg in Bermuda two weeks later as they appreciate their importance to their clubs.

"If things go well, myself and the coaching staff will sit down and discuss what is best for both parties,'' said Best.

"You have to think of those guys' professional careers as well as what is good for the country. But the country must come first.'' The players, too, are hoping a compromise can be reached. Both are reluctant to leave their clubs at such a crucial stage of the season, though they say they are excited about representing their country again.

"The main thing is that the club knows early,'' said Lightbourne who, despite not scoring regularly, has been a regular starter in the Stoke team since the takeover by an Icelandic businessman early in the season.

"With the manager being an ex-national team manager, he knows what it's like and I guess they are bracing themselves for certain matches when we won't be involved. I haven't spoken to him about it since they received the fax a while ago.'' Lightbourne feared losing his place in the Stoke team when the new manager came in but the boss has continued to show faith in the Bermudian.

"I've been playing regularly and things are going quite well, though I haven't scored the goals,'' said Lightbourne.

"I've started most of the games he's been in charge of.'' Goater is the top scorer in the First Division and his goals are needed if City are to make another successful promotion run.

"I haven't sat down and talked to my gaffer but he (Royle) obviously doesn't want me to go,'' said Goater.

"He is still waiting for the confirmed dates from the BFA. As far as I know the dates are the fourth and the 18th and as the time gets closer I guess he'll have a word with Clyde Best and try to come to an agreement.'' Goater admits he has fond memories of 1992 when the team reached the second round of the qualifying campaign for the '94 World Cup.

"Some of my best memories were with the previous World Cup squad,'' said Goater.

"The boys were committed and everything about it was really good. It was a shame it came to an end but it was a good experience and something I will never forget.

"It was something that was good for Bermuda football at the time. It's a shame we didn't take it on from there.'' Man in demand: Kyle Lightbourne (left), who stands to miss up to five matches for his club Stoke City if Bermuda manage a good World Cup run, celebrates one of his four goals against the Bahamas last May with team-mate Meshach Wade.