Kyle Lightbourne is hoping to star in his own version of the second coming.

The Bermudian striker became Macclesfield Town's highest ever paid player when he signed for the Third Division side in the summer.

Released by Stoke City, he dropped down a division to join the unfancied Cheshire team and kick-start a career that had gradually gone downhill.

After hitting the heights in the English Premiership with Coventry City, Lightbourne left for Stoke but after several relatively successful seasons was farmed out on loan to the likes of Swindon Town and Cardiff City as he became surplus to requirements.

The then Macclesfield boss Gil Prescott took a gamble on the big frontman prior to the start of this season, but a lack of match sharpness and injury has meant he has spent as much time on the sidelines as he has in the first team.

As the Silkmen slipped down the division to second from bottom, Prescott quit and was replaced by Dave Moss.

Lightbourne's injury woes continued and although he made a comeback against Shrewsbury several weeks ago, so did the injury and he barely lasted 40 minutes.

However, after seeing the same podiatrist, or foot specialist, as fellow Bermudian Shaun Goater, the player hopes he has put the bad times behind him.

He played last week in the 1-0 defeat by Rochdale, but had a winning weekend on Saturday as the Silkmen saw off Swansea City in Wales by the same margin.

Explaining the recent injury Lightbourne told TheRoyal Gazette: "I damaged a ligament in my right foot. It wasn't properly healed the first time and needed more time than either I or the physio thought."

As a result he set himself back several weeks.

"It was very frustrating because it was the longest period I have been out since I came to England," he said. "It was quite difficult at times to just sit and watch, especially as the team wasn't doing too well at the time.

"We all felt we could do a lot better than what we were doing. The table doesn't lie, but we all felt that with a bit of luck we could have been higher up."

But the luck deserted them both in terms of performances and personnel.

"When Kevin Keen was caretaker manager we had at least five players injured and with such a small squad it makes a big difference," he said.

Generally, when a new manager comes in he brings in his own players and favourites under the previous regime can find themselves cast aside.

However, Lightbourne said he was not too worried when Moss took over.

"We had a word and from his point of view he has to take things day by day and go from there," he said. "Obviously, he knew I was an experienced player. Because he had been around for such a long time as far as coaching was concerned he knew about me. He had seen me play before and it was just a question of him having to wait until I was fit."

Lightbourne scored on his return to reserve action and was immediately promoted to the first team.

"Last week (against Rochdale) I felt quite good," he said. "I played the whole match even though the manager had said to me if I get to 60 minutes he would bring me off because I hadn't played for such a long time. But I got through the game quite well."

Against Swansea he did not last the course, but Lightbourne said it was as much to do with the conditions as any other factor.

"This week I came off after about 60 minutes. The pitch was very heavy as there had been a lot of rain over the weekend," he said. "It was a tough match and he brought me off and changed the system a little bit."

Macclesfield played with three strikers against Swansea with Lightbourne used in an unfamiliar role.

"We played with three up front but it was sort of a combined midfield and centre forward role," he said. "It worked out well. We were away from home and the onus is always on the home team to try and come out.

"A couple of times we were able to break and cause them problems.

"It wasn't a great game but we did enough to win the match."

The win was vital for Macclesfield, who are 18th in the 24-team division, as sides below them also bagged maximum points.

"Everyone below us won on Saturday so everything stayed the same," he said. "We just have to take care of our end and try and pick up as many points as we can between now and the end of the season and not worry about other teams.

"The teams immediately above us all lost so it brought the bottom of the pack up a bit closer. Everything changes week to week, game to game because of the three-point system. We are six points off the bottom but if you lose two games and the bottom team win you are right back in trouble. We just have to keep picking up points."

Tonight Macclesfield take on Shrewsbury in the league and although Lightbourne has not been told he is starting he is hopeful after the way his last run-out went.

"We are at home and we need to try and get the victory so that's what we will be trying to do," he said.