Kyle Lightbourne will start for Cardiff City tomorrow knowing he is a wanted man.

The Bermudian striker will begin against Kidderminster Harriers as his new side look to strengthen their bid for promotion from the Third Division.

Lightbourne has joined the Welsh high-fliers from Second Division Stoke City on a month's loan, but has been told if he comes up with the goods a permanent move is a distinct possibility.

Since being placed on the transfer list by Stoke just before Christmas, the 32-year-old has found himself frozen out of the first team picture and only an unsuccessful sojourn at Swindon Town provided him with any competitive football.

He returned to Stoke earlier this month with the very real prospect of having to sit out his contract until he becomes a free agent in the summer.

That was until former Wales boss Bobby Gould, now manager at Cardiff, moved in.

Speaking exclusively to The Royal Gazette , Gould said he had long been a fan of Lightbourne's.

"Years ago when I was at Wimbledon with Sam Hamman (former Wimbledon, now Cardiff chairman) he was always on the hit list,'' he said.

"Sam and I always created a hit list and we monitored his career. When he first came in at Walsall and he started to do well there he was under scrutiny.'' However, up until now Gould's interest has only ever been from afar.

But with Lightbourne in the position of being surplus to requirements at Stoke and Cardiff suffering from a suspension and injury crisis up front, the call went out to the big man to journey to the Welsh capital.

"What has happened is we have lost Kevin Nugent who was one of our most experienced target men with an achilles tendon injury. He had an operation three or four weeks ago,'' he said.

"We then purchased Leo Fortune-West from Rotherham for 300,000 and then we felt we needed another youngster and we went and bought Gavin Gordon from Lincoln.

"But they both got suspended two weeks ago and therefore it was imperative we got another big man in and Kyle came into that category.'' Gould said he believed Lightbourne could do an excellent job of keeping third-placed City's top-of-the-table challenge going.

After witnessing him in his first training session the boss said it was clear he had "top-quality technical ability'' and would bring the experience necessary at this critical point of the season.

Gould said it was a two way deal -- by helping Cardiff, Lightbourne would also be helping himself.

"He knows that if he does well there is the possibility of a long-term future here,'' he said.

Referring to the Bosman Ruling, which allows players over the age of 23 freedom to move clubs for no transfer fee when their contract expires, Gould said: "He is on a Bosman which is new to everybody in this country. He is one of seven strikers at Stoke and if he can move out early I'm sure he could be happy. If he produces the form that we hope he can produce and that he hopes he can produce who knows what the long term future is?'' With that comment Gould appears to be hinting that Cardiff might seek to free Lightbourne from his contract at Stoke by coming to some agreement with his current employers.

It might be that rather than trying to cash in with a transfer fee, Stoke may snap up the opportunity to reduce their wage bill and offload him before the summer.

"There are negotiations that have to take place, it all depends what position we are in,'' Gould said.

Despite his lack of first team matches recently, Cardiff's predicament means Lightbourne will be thrust straight into the action alongside Paul Brayson in a combination Gould describes as "little and large, balance and blend''.

"He will definitely start against Kidderminster on Sunday,'' he said.

Continued on page 17 Kyle wanted Continued from page 15 Asked if Lightbourne was match fit, Gould added: "These are the things that you have to wait and see. He doesn't carry an ounce of fat on his body, it's down to his desire and passion really.

"He knows he has an opportunity to stay and it was lovely to see him in training this morning smiling with a nice grin there. He settled in ever so well this morning and it's a lovely environment at the moment. At the same time he knows he is wanted.'' For Lightbourne that is a word he hasn't heard in a while.

Wanted man: Kyle Lightbourne (left) celebrates a Caribbean Cup goal for Bermuda against Bahamas with team-mate Meshach Wade. Lightbourne may soon have somthing else to celebrate if his loan to Cardiff City leads to a permanent move.