Macclesfield's caretaker boss Kevin Keen believes Saturday's goal-scoring hero Kyle Lightbourne is the man to help lift the club clear of the relegation zone.

The Bermudian was in superb form against Carlisle after three weeks out with a knee injury.

He hit a 73rd-minute equaliser and almost inspired a dramatic fightback in the closing stages of the Third Division clash.

Keen said his close pal came through the game unscathed and should be fit to face Southend on Friday night.

"Kyle's a great lad and he worked his socks off," said Keen. "We missed him desperately when he was out. He not only causes teams problems in their own box, but he puts in plenty of good work in ours as well.

"Once he's fully fit he'll be even more of a handful. Getting people like Kyle back is a big boost to our hopes. Our full-strength team is a match for anyone."

Lightbourne has now hit three goals since his summer move from Stoke City and his header against Carlisle was Town's first in 363 minutes of league football.

Meanwhile, watching the Shaun Goater-Darren Huckerby partnership flourish against Gillingham delighted Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan, as he admitted it was just what he wanted.

With nine goals to his name in eight matches since he replaced the injured Paulo Wanchope, Huckerby continues to make a strong case for automatic selection ahead of the Costa Rican.

"Paulo should be back by the end of this month if there are no setbacks. The Blackburn match may be too soon, but he should be ready for the game after that against Grimsby," said Keegan. "It would be nice to have everyone fit for selection. Paulo was doing very well before he was sidelined and Shaun and he were proving a very good partnership. Now Darren has come and worked a different type of partnership with Shaun, but that is what you want.

"The worst thing we would have needed after Paulo was injured was that we hadn't got anyone to come in in his place. We had Darren to come in and we have others too who are chomping at the bit to get in."