Kyle Lightbourne has said he wants to play for Bermuda in the World Cup on Sunday and Clyde Best was yesterday upbeat about securing the release of the professional striker from his English club, Stoke City.

Best spoke to Lightbourne yesterday, but added he still needed final clearance from Stoke manager Gudjon Thordarson for the striker to return home at the weekend.

"We're still working on Kyle,'' said Best yesterday. "We had a good talk on the phone and Kyle said he wants to play. His manager is away in Iceland, but the assistant coach has had notification.

"I don't want to say for sure whether Kyle will be back until his manager gives the go-ahead, but we should have a final answer on Thursday.'' Stoke, who are in seventh place in Division Two, chasing a top-six spot and a place in the promotion play-offs, may be unhappy about losing Lightbourne for the Easter programme, in which they play Bournemouth on Saturday and Scunthorpe on Sunday.

But according to the rules of world soccer's governing body FIFA, clubs are obliged to release a player called up by his country for a World Cup match, so technically Stoke should have no choice but to let Lightbourne go.

Lightbourne's presence would be a huge boost to a Bermuda team which missed a series of good chances late in their goalless draw in Antigua last Sunday.

And the rare chance of seeing the 31-year-old, who played at Wembley last Sunday to help Stoke win the Auto Windscreens Shield final, in action for the Island could add substantially to Sunday's attendance.

But there are doubts over whether Lightbourne's fellow pro David Bascome will be in the side to play Antigua at the National Stadium.

Best was trying to contact the Harrisburg Heat midfielder yesterday to ascertain whether he would be fit enough to take part.

Bascome, who has just recovered from a groin strain which prevented him from training for two weeks, told The Royal Gazette this week he would be fit enough to play half a game.

But that may not be enough to convince Best that he can risk throwing the player into a match which Bermuda must win to stay in the World Cup.

Best said he needed to speak to Bascome before he and team coach Robert Calderon could make any final decision.

And the former technical director was somewhat perturbed about Bascome's complaints that he had not been contacted by himself or Calderon for three weeks.

"I asked him to get back to us when he was OK after his injury. I've been waiting to hear from him,'' said Best.

"I have put numerous calls into him, but each time I got through to an answering service.'' There may be a brand new addition to the squad if US-based striker CJ Robinson can be flown in.

The Bermuda-born Robinson plays college soccer in North Carolina, where he was spotted by national team goalkeeper, Dawyne (Streaker) Adams.

Best is keen to bring Robinson to the Island this weekend, but the 21-year-old is unlikely to make the starting line-up.

"I'd like to bring Robinson in and at least have a look at him,'' said Best.

"According to Streaker, he's good enough.'' There has been no attempt to ask Manchester City's Shaun Goater to come back for the match, as the striker has already indicated his club is his priority.

Best said the squad would not be named until day, to see how players came through last night's training session and also the FA Cup semi-final.

Man in demand: Kyle Lightbourne, who has been asked to come back on Sunday to bolster Bermuda's World Cup chances against Antigua at the National Stadium.