Town.

Cobblers boss, Kevin Wilson, who played alongside the Bermudian when he was at Walsall, has confirmed his interest in the striker who is out of contract at Stoke City.

Lightbourne was granted a free transfer by Stoke towards the end of the season, but despite interest from a number of clubs he was unable to secure a move before transfer deadline day.

That meant he had to sit out the rest of the season in the Potteries, and although he did make a number of substitute appearances a month or so back, he has been reduced to reserve team football at best recently.

Northampton released eight players on Tuesday as they embarked on a post-season cull.

The Cobblers scored only 46 goals last season and though they avoided relegation, their tally was less than that of the division's bottom club, Oxford United.

Wilson knows that if his side are to be a serious promotion threat next season then he needs to find someone who will bang in the goals on a regular basis.

"We need a targetman up front and Kyle Lightbourne could be a target for us over the summer,'' the boss said. "We need to bring in players with pace and power and strength all over the park.'' "I went after Kyle on transfer deadline day after Steve Howard went to Luton but Stoke changed things around a bit and our bid for Kyle failed.

"He would have given us another edge in the final two weeks of the season and another dimension to our play but that didn't happen and I think we missed out.

"Things may be different in the summer but we'll have to wait and see.

"I played with Kyle at Walsall for a couple of years so I know all about his qualities and what he can offer and he will give us something we don't currently have.'' Wilson admitted, however, that Lightbourne was currently wrapped up in Stoke's promotion play-off campaign and would have to wait for his contract to expire before making any official move.

Kyle Lightbourne: targeted by Northampton Town.