Macclesfield Town will back Kyle Lightbourne all the way if he wants to continue to play on the international stage.

Lightbourne last played for Bermuda in a 5-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands in March of last year.

New national team coach Mark Trott has said both he and Manchester City striker Shaun Goater still figure in his plans, but the player himself has not spoken publicly about whether he wants to add to his collection of caps.

The club versus country issue regularly rears its head in English football, with teams often finding themselves at loggerheads with international managers when it comes to requests for them to release their players.

However, the Silkmen's boss Gil Prescott says he will not stand in the way of Lightbourne making the trek home should Trott call on his services.

Lightbourne, who made his debut for Macclesfield on Saturday after signing a two-year deal upon his release from Second Division Stoke City, has already impressed Prescott with his professionalism and dressing room spirit and the manager believes even at 32 years of age he still has what it takes to cut it internationally.

"I'd love him to play again because I think he is quality," he said. "I get the impression he is very proud of his international career and does enjoy it. I would be more than thrilled for the man if he got the opportunity again and I'd be very supportive of that.

"Obviously it would hurt us a little bit maybe when the internationals are played, but he is such a good player it seems a waste if he is not playing international football."

Prescott agreed the exposure for the unfashionable Third Division side would be welcome, but it was not his major concern.

"That's nice but I think the most important thing is that the guy is getting his dues. Somebody of his ability should be playing. I don't know on a day to day basis what the remainder of the squad is over there, but obviously if they are anything like (Kyle) there must be one or two good players."

Prescott also revealed how he had day-dreamed of pairing Lightbourne with Goater, should the City frontman believe it was time to move on to pastures new.

"All I need now is Shaun . . . and I think I'd have a reasonable (front) two," he said. "I said to Kyle `could you not persuade him' but I think the money would be too much for us at Macclesfield.

"I'd love Shaun alongside him because he is quality as well and I've always been a big fan since he was at Bristol City.

"Kyle and I have had a joke about it because he is a big friend of Shaun's - that would be some front two."