Bermuda?s World Cup campaign received a tremendous boost yesterday with confirmation former English professional striker Kyle Lightbourne has been included in the national squad.

The former Coventry City, Walsall and Macclesfield striker is set to rejoin the Island?s senior national team for a practice session at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on Sunday.

Lightbourne?s inclusion will certainly be an asset to the national team already boasting the likes of Shaun Goater and John Barry Nusum ? two of the Island?s other overseas-based professional players.

It was Lightbourne who scored the winner against El Salvador ? Bermuda?s World Cup qualifying second round opponents in June ? at the NSC during the 1992 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Also receiving invitations to train with the national team are North Village midfield maestro Keith Jennings and promising PHC Zebras player Blenn Bean, though the former suffered a suspected fractured toe during Village?s Friendship Trophy final against Somerset Eagles last Saturday night at the NSC.

Lightbourne, 35, retired from professional football in the UK at the beginning of the 2003-04 English season and is now nearing completion of a UEFA B coaching course.

?Kyle (Lightbourne) contacted me last week and indicated that he would like to be available for selection,? confirmed national coach Kenny Thompson.

?He had resumed training for general health reasons some weeks ago and what prompted his interests was that he started to intensify and feels he?s in good condition. And so he thought he could make himself available to assist in helping the team to be successful. I accepted and he will participate in some upcoming matches that we are currently planning.?

Lightbourne?s inclusion now provides Thompson with another attacking option.

?It?s a good situation for us to be in. We have a lot of options in attack with Shaun (Goater) and John (Nusum) and now Kyle,? he said. ?Kyle will bring along his experience at the professional level that will add to our attacking options ? and that?s always a good thing. We now know we can go to another attacking option should the need arise.?

Thompson added: ?Experience is always an asset and so with Kyle having played against El Salvador in the past and also having played professionally at the highest level in England, it will certainly bring more experience to the team . . . and we can only benefit from it. Certainly with the players we already have, they can feed off some of the experience that someone like Kyle brings.?

Lightbourne will undergo a physical on Sunday, said Thompson.

?The first thing that I will do with Kyle is a physical conditioning test for endurance, starting speed and acceleration just to get a handle on what his level of fitness is compared to the other players who have already been tested in those areas.?

Thompson also confirmed US-based professional Kevin Richards remains part of his World Cup plans.

The senior national coach also said information related to Bermuda playing against Barbados next week which appeared on the Reading website was misleading. Talks that could possibly see the Island take on Central American opposition for a series of World Cup warm ups, he said, remain ongoing.