Kyle Lightbourne's career has hit a new low, according to reports coming out of England.

The Bermudian striker has apparently been placed on the transfer list by Third Division strugglers Macclesfield Town.

Lightbourne is the club's top wage earner and with the Silkmen sinking towards the depths of the basement division and the striker not banging in the goals on a regular basis it would appear manager Dave Moss has had enough.

The international has had a sorry time of it since moving on a free transfer from Stoke City during the summer.

He has only found the net on a handful of occasions and has been beset by injury problems. Add to that that the man who signed him Gil Prescott quit the hotseat to be replaced by Moss and it is not difficult to see why Lightbourne has found himself in this situation.

On Wednesday, Moss signed frontman Matthew Tipton from Oldham and the youngster is set to go straight into today's squad for the game against Bristol Rovers today.

Boss Moss is reported to have told a Fans' Forum hours after sealing the deal for Tipton: "I have not seen the best of Kyle Lightbourne. I think we can get more out of him this season.

"I've put him on the transfer list because he's not as hungry for goals as I'd like him to be. Now in his mid-thirties, I'm not sure Kyle can ever get back to the form that he had when he was scoring so frequently for Walsall."

Despite being listed, Lightbourne has still travelled with the squad to the West country and will take up a position on the bench today.

Macclesfield are desperate for a victory after taking only one point from their last four games.

Meanwhile, Shaun Goater is expected to line up against Paulo Wanchope when Manchester City take on Newcastle United at St. James' Park in the English FA Cup tomorrow.

Goater suffered a thigh strain 24 hours before last weekend's game against Preston, but a week's rest appears to have had the desired effect.

See also Page 26.