Kyle Lightbourne wasted little time in impressing the powers that be at Hull City.

The Bermudian, on loan at the club from Third Division rivals Macclesfield Town, is in line for a starting berth for today's match at Leyton Orient after being put through his paces by the Tigers.

Lightbourne, on the transfer list at Macclesfield, and fellow new boy Adrian Caceres have been brought in by the East coast club in a bid to kickstart their fight for a place in the play-offs.

Caretaker boss Billy Russell would have ideally liked to have given the duo more time to settle in at Boothferry Park but injuries to four other strikers - and a return of just four goals from the last five games - has forced his hand.

Rodney Rowe, Gary Bradshaw (both back) are definitely out of today's game while record buy Lawrie Dudfield is struggling to shake off a hamstring injury which he sustained in reserve team action in midweek.

To add to City's problems, Jamaican Theodore Whitmore - who only returned to first team duty at Oxford last Saturday - is a major doubt after suffering a neck injury which was apparently caused by a bad night's sleep!

That leaves Lightbourne and Caceres competing for the role of partnering 22-goal hit-man Gary Alexander in what many fans have labelled as a must win game for Russell's side.

Russell revealed to the Hull Daily Mail: "At the moment, we're definitely without Rod and Gary. Lawrie and Theo have got to be doubts and the injuries are one of the reasons why we brought the two new lads in.

"Kyle trained with us yesterday and he's keen to make an impression. He's a physical player which should help Gary and he also has a lot of experience while Adrian has done well in his two reserve team games and his match fitness is improving all the time.

"They will be in the squad and they might just supply the spark we've been missing over our last two or three games.

"I'm not saying they will both start but we'll see what happens. The positive thing is that even with injuries, we've got options."

Russell is also contemplating two other changes after the 1-0 defeat at Oxford. Ryan Williams has completed a two-match ban while Australian full back Jason Van Blerk is back to fitness after a shoulder injury.

Ian Goodison is definitely out with a damaged knee while Mike Edwards is suspended so Van Blerk's availability will increase the pressure on Andy Holt.

Williams is tipped to return on the right side of midfield.

Russell, who watched Orient claim a fourth consecutive home win against Mansfield in midweek, said: "The lads have been very positive after Oxford and they seem to be more determined than ever.

"I honestly believe our performances have been better than results might suggest. We've played well but the end product - scoring goals - has been missing. However, we're going to Orient in confident mood.

"It is an important game. However, it's no more important than the other six matches we've got left this season. We're still looking at the top seven but we're not going to start setting targets.

" It's just one game at a time. If we could get one win it might just kick-start everything again."

Meanwhile, Shaun Goater goes back to the club where he began to make a name for himself in English football, Rotherham United, today.

Although it is not certain that he will start against the Millers following his sending off in the 2-1 loss to relegated Stockport on Tuesday, Goater will be keen to add to his 30 goal tally at the expense of his old friends.

"Rotherham was brilliant for me," he told the Manchester Evening News. "It was my real education in the English game. They, in a sense, made me understand my role within the team as a striker, the types of runs I should be making and the ways I could contribute.

"I played a lot of games for Rotherham, and, like most players who have spent quite a lot of time at one club, I still like them to do well and check on how they are going.

"I missed the first game earlier this season and it will be nice to see some old friends."