By Jonathan Kent A stark choice looms ahead for Kyle Lightbourne -- to play for his country in the World Cup or for his club in a cup final at Wembley.

And the Stoke City striker said yesterday he would probably skip Bermuda's home World Cup match against Antigua to take his first chance to play at the world-famous London stadium on April 16.

But Lightbourne, one of four professionals in the World Cup squad, gave the Island team a boost by confirming he would be available for the first leg in Antigua on April 2.

The dilemma will arise for Lightbourne if Stoke City reach the Auto Windscreens Shield final and Bermuda reach the second round of World Cup qualifying.

That scenario is more than likely to happen. Even defeat by a three-goal margin would suffice for Bermuda to progress in their tie against the BVI at the National Stadium on Sunday.

And Stoke are almost as well placed after the away leg of the Shield's Northern final, which they won 3-1 at Rochdale on Tuesday night.

If the Potters are still ahead on aggregate after next Wednesday's second leg at Stoke's Britannia Stadium, they will qualify for the Wembley final against fellow English Second Division side Bristol City on April 16 -- the same day as Bermuda's second-leg match against Antigua.

"I'm very excited about the chance of playing at Wembley -- it means a lot to me and everyone at the club,'' said Lightbourne.

"It's every player's dream to play there and I'm no different. I've never been this close to Wembley in eight years of playing in England. It might be my one chance to play at Wembley and I feel I've got to take it.'' Both Stoke and Bristol City, Shaun Goater's former club, have big followings and the old stadium should be packed to capacity.

The match will be one of the last finals played at Wembley under the famous Twin Towers, which are due to be torn down as part of a revamp of the stadium.

The loss of the 6ft-2 Lightbourne who scored the opening goal in the BVI, even for only one leg against Antigua, could hit Bermuda hard.

The Caribbean side won one and lost one against Bermuda when they toured the Island in January last year, when both teams were without several top players.

And with Lightbourne's national team strike partner Goater reportedly reluctant to leave Manchester City's First Division promotion campaign for either Antigua match, Bermuda could be missing both their professional strikers for the second leg.

However, Lightbourne did have some good news for national team coach Robert Calderon.

"I'll definitely be available for the first leg in Antigua and I hope we can get a big lead like we did in BVI,'' said Lightbourne, who would miss Stoke's visit to Bristol Rovers on April 1.

To fulfill his Wembley dream, Lightbourne must first win his place back in the Stoke starting line-up, a place he lost when he went to the BVI.

"I've been on the bench for the last couple of games,'' said the striker.

"When I was away with Bermuda, they brought in Arnar Gunnlaugsson from Leicester on loan.

"He's been playing well since and I haven't been able to win my place back.

If I hadn't gone to the BVI, they would never have brought the guy in and I wouldn't have lost my place.'' If Stoke want to sign the Iceland international on a permanent basis, they will have to do it by next Thursday, transfer deadline day.

Stoke are also pushing for a place in the top six of the Second Division which would put them in the promotion play-offs with an opportunity of going to Wembley again in May.

"This is a crucial stage of the season and it's not ideal that the World Cup games are at the same time,'' said Lightbourne.

"I want to help Bermuda do well in the World Cup, but you just can't have it both ways.'' Kyle Lightbourne: tough decision.