he came on as a substitute in the final 20 minutes of Coventry's 3-2 home win over last season's FA Cup winners Chelsea.

And though he took a knock on his leg which required treatment early yesterday, the Bermudian striker did leave hours later with his team-mates on the trip down to London for today's televised match against Arsenal.

Locals can see the match live on ESPN (Channel 24) at 4.00 p.m. and it will be repeated at 8.00 p.m.

"Because it's his dream I'm happy for him,'' said Lightbourne's wife Rosemarie who along with daughter Kiante' went to Highfield Road to watch the match.

Lightbourne entered the action with his side trailing 2-1 and almost marked his debut with a goal when his searing left foot shot from just inside the penalty box was brilliantly saved by Chelsea 'keeper Ed DeGoey.

Minutes later he received a yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Frank LeBoeuf.

Dion Dublin scored all three Coventry goals, including two in the final eight minutes, to seal an exciting victory in front of a crowd of 22,638.

While Lightbourne was a regular in the Walsall team over the last three seasons when he led their scoring, he is going to have to fight to earn a place in the Coventry attack.

"It's going to be tough and I have to be there for him,'' said his wife.

"He's going to be on the bench and in the reserves so he's going to be trying hard to break in.'' Kyle Lightbourne