When Shaun Goater called his old pal up, he was in need of advice.

The former Man City legend was about to be discarded by Reading and he was down in the doldrums and on the verge of hanging up those large boots.

Kyle Lightbourne wasn?t the only one the Goat rang but the national coach was only to happy to give the best possible advice.

?He really didn?t know what he wanted to do,? said Lightbourne, who has played against Goater on numerous occasions while both players were at various clubs in various English divisions.

?But I made it simple for him. I said ?Shaun, do you still want to play football??, he replied ?yes? and I told him to go and find the offer that fitted the best ? he had a few different clubs interested in him ? and go with them.

?I told him that if he felt that he had anything left to offer and would regret it if he didn?t give it another try, then he should go for it ? and I couldn?t be more pleased for him.?

Goater suffered a torrid time at Reading and after a lot of soul-searching ? and phonecalls to ex-players like Cyrille Regis and Lightbourne ? he decided to stay on as a professional.

He signed for League One side Southend and has already banged in three goals and made the first giant steps to being hero worshipped by Shrimpers fans after bagging a brace against arch-rivals Colchester United.

?It?s great for him,? continued Lightbourne, who will still use Goater in internationals if he is available.

?I never doubted that he could keep scoring goals ? I don?t think many people did ? and it is good to see things are working out for him.

?He is happy again, scoring goals and enjoying his football. I think he is proving to other people and to himself that staying on was the right move.

?For me, I was reaching the stage where it was just becoming a job where I was drawing a pay cheque and it was not a passion anymore. I wanted to play because it was my career, not because I wanted to play anymore.

?I knew it was the right time for me to quit and it was obviously not the right time for Shaun.?

Lightbourne is pleased for Goater but he also pleased for other Bermudians doing well abroad, but for different reasons.

?It is good to see our young players doing well overseas,? continued Lightbourne, who admitted in his first week in charge of the national side that he would be happy if every one of his players was plying their trade away from the Island.

?Nine times out of ten, if a player is overseas he is playing at a higher standard than football here and that can only benefit them and also probably brings a professionalism to their game.

?We have seen it with players like John Barry Nusum, when they come back to the national team they have more to offer ? I am always happy to see Bermudians playing overseas.?

As well as the young players away at college in the US and Domico Coddington, who is having trials in Italy, Lightbourne is particularly pleased for Damon Ming, who scored for Southend?s reserves in a trial game this week.

?Damon has always shown he is a player with a lot of ability and a lot to offer,? continued Lightbourne, a clear admirer of the diminutive Trojans winger.

?Maybe he is a little older than some of the other players looking to make a name for themselves but I?m sure if Damon can just find a manager or a coach who has a bit of belief in him, he can do very well for himself.

?He is always willing to learn but he is a hard worker. Hopefully things will work out for him at Southend, but even if they don?t, I?m sure he can do enough to impress another club.?

Khano Smith, who scored for the Revolution against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, had two assists for their reserves againstthe same opposition on Tuesday evening.

Smith was fouled to give the Revs a penalty, converted by Connally Edozien, and then in the second half, the former Dandy Town player sent over a pinpoint cross which Edozien again finished off.

The game finished 2-2 and Smith, who scored five for the reserves against college opposition the previous week, picked up a booking before he was substituted in the 66th minute.