City first team received another jolt yesterday when the English Premier Division club signed Romanian international Viorel Moldovan.

Lightbourne has had to make do with reserve team football and the odd appearance on the substitutes' bench since being taken off during the televised match against Barnsley almost two months ago.

And the introduction of new striker Moldovan, signed yesterday on a four-and-a-half year contract worth $6.7 million, will make his task all the more difficult.

Moldovan, who plays for Swiss side Grasshoppers, is expected to join Coventry on January 2. He has scored eight goals in 20 internationals.