English Second Division side, Stoke City.

The Bermudian international striker has found himself forced out of the first team picture in recent matches and is now not even in the running for a place in reserve fixtures.

Although he has been travelling with the Potters' squad to matches, and made the trip to Wigan today, he has not figured on the field since the embarrassing 8-0 Worthington Cup defeat at the hands of Premiership giants Liverpool.

Ironically in the previous game he was on top form, netting twice against Swindon Town in the league.

But Lightbourne seems to have been made the scapegoat for that dreadful cup performance, and with Stoke boss Gudjon Thordarson bringing in two new strikers to partner in-form Peter Thorne, one from his Icelandic homeland and the other, Andy Cooke, a 300,000 buy from Burnley, his chances at the Britannia Stadium would appear limited.

Frustrated, but realistic about the current situation the 32-year-old said yesterday: "It's a managerial decision. There's nothing I can do about it. He (the manager) didn't give me any reason.'' Despite the cup scoreline, Lightbourne said he believed his performance against Swindon and the fact he came close against Liverpool might have been enough for him to retain his position.

"As a team I thought we played OK against Liverpool, but they scored eight goals so.....'' he said.

"When they were 1-0 up Peter Thorne hit the post and I had a header go over the crossbar.'' Whether the situation would have reached this point if Lightbourne had netted against the Reds is open to debate, but it was certainly a watershed as far as the boss was concerned.

"I know it sounds bad when you say you've lost 8-0,'' he said. "But basically there was one change (after that) and that was me.'' The player said although the manager hadn't said he wasn't wanted, the fact he was bringing in new blood made his intentions clear.

"I can more or less say that I won't be part of his plans because of the fact that he has brought in two new strikers,'' he said, adding: "I understand football. I've started about 11 games this season and scored five goals. So, on ratio, I've done quite well.

"But I understand the way football operates and that's just something the manager has decided to do. He wants the club to get promoted as does everyone.

"The main thing about it is that I came straight from playing in the team to not even being substitute.

"I could understand it if I had not been playing well. But I had scored a couple of goals. As a forward if you're scoring goals you stand a chance of staying in the team.'' Lightbourne believes he has given Stoke value for money during his time at the club and is no way bitter about his treatment.

"When I arrived here I was sick. I had a virus and it took me a while to get going,'' he said. "Last year I had a really good season without scoring loads of goals. The season before that I was injured and in and out of the team -- that's when Brian Little was here (as manager),'' he said.

"Over the last year Stoke have seemed a very good side, playing well and consistently performing well. As a striker if you are not scoring goals, you need to be at least playing well.

"Since he (Thordarson) has been there I would say I've probably been one of the most consistent players for them.

"But that's the way football goes. They (managers) make their decisions and they either live by them or die by them.'' Lightbourne, who is coming to the end of his contract at Stoke anyway, says he still believes he has what it takes to play at Second Division level or higher.

"I'm coming to the end of my contract, it runs out at the end of the season.

We'll just speak about it but more than likely I'll just be moving on, get another club and take it from there,'' he said.

Asked if he would have preferred to have remained at Stoke, he said: "Not if I'm not going to be playing.

"I still think I'm capable of playing at a higher level. I will speak with the manager and see what happens.'' Lightbourne, who does not have an agent to act for him, is not allowed to tout his impending availability until his contract expires, so for now he aims to put transfer talk to the back of his mind and instead concentrate 100 percent on City's promotion push -- especially with the busy festive schedule looming.

"Over the Christmas period anything is liable to happen. You have got so many games back to back. I'll do my talking on the pitch instead of ranting and raving,'' he said.

"I'm travelling with the team. It's not like the manager has said you are not travelling.

"I'm in the squad for tomorrow and who knows. I might be sub and I could come on and score the winning goal -- that's the way I think.

"It's frustrating at times when you are not in the team, but I have been on the other end. I have come in when players have been at a club and I have taken someone's place. I can see both sides -- it's no big deal, that's life.'' Moving on? Bermudian striker Kyle Lightbourne may be looking for a switch from Stoke City after being frozen out recently.