Gil Prescott's unswerving loyalty to Bermudian striker Kyle Lightbourne shows no sign of faltering, despite the fact the player has yet to hit the back of the net for Macclesfield Town.

Prescott, boss of the English Third Division side, sealed a major coup for the tiny Cheshire club during the summer when he stole in to land Lightbourne ahead of a number of other suitors from both home and abroad.

The frontman, who had been released by Stoke City towards the end of last season, took a pay cut to join the team but still became the highest paid player in their history.

After a limited run-out prior to the new term Lightbourne was expected to start banging in the goals when the new season started around a month ago.

However, despite numerous chances, a combination of bad luck and bad finishing means he is still waiting to open his account.

Last week he thanked the club's fans, through Prescott, for their patience and after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Halifax the manager felt the need to back the player again.

Lightbourne could, and maybe should, have opened the scoring at the weekend after just 35 seconds but his low shot in the box was easily pushed around the post by Halifax goalkeeper, Lee Butler.

Said Prescott: "He's feeling a bit of pressure and he thought he was awful against Halifax but he will come good. He had no pre-season and we will need to be patient with him."

Prescott likened Lightbourne's plight to that of team-mate Lee Glover who took time to hit the glory trail last year, but is now the leading scorer at Moss Rose.

"Lee Glover struggled a bit last year because he missed out on pre-season but look at him now, he's in great form," said Prescott. "Kyle is getting fitter all the time and once he gets one I'm sure plenty more will follow. He's working hard and has a great attitude."

Meanwhile, fellow Bermudian Shaun Goater has a chance to make up for Manchester City's abject performance against West Bromwich Albion tonight.

The First Division's leading scorer was criticised along with his team-mates by boss Kevin Keegan after City crashed to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Baggies on Saturday.

City play at Notts County this evening in the Worthington Cup and Keegan, who had thought about using the match to showcase some young fringe players, is expected to stick with Saturday's line-up in the hope they will prove the result was a one-off.

Keegan said: "We wanted to play some younger players in the Worthington Cup, because I've got two or three of them chomping at the bit and almost ready to go in.

"But we want them to go into a side that is playing well so we will have to give Tuesday a miss and put them on hold.

"We have some good youngsters at this club and I do want to give them their chance.

"They will look at the way we played at West Brom and wonder why they are not in the side. I look at the way we played and wonder why I am not in the side!"