Kyle Lightbourne on the weekend -- and a further recurrence could force the Walsall midfielder-forward to undergo surgery, The Royal Gazette learned last night.

The Bermudian came off early in the second half of his team's match on Saturday with Shrewsbury, which they lost 1-0, after dislocating the shoulder in the first half.

"I fell on it and it popped out,'' Lightbourne explained last night. "I couldn't go in for challenges after that.'' The club doctor worked frantically on the shoulder to have Lightbourne fit for Tuesday night's FA Cup replay with Scunthorpe which, Walsall lost 7-6 on penalties. Extra time and then the initial five penalties failed to break the deadlock.

"It feels all right now but what the club doctor is saying is if it comes out again I will have to get it operated on,'' said Lightbourne.

"Hopefully it won't come out of joint again. I was in for treatment on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the game, so I was doubtful.'' The shoulder was first dislocated back in 1987 when PHC beat St. George's in the Friendship Trophy final. Lightbourne recalled that he was injured after a challenge from defender Al Furbert.

Despite the latest setback, Lightbourne played for the duration of Tuesday's replay and even scored his team's fifth penalty to tie the score at 4-4 and force sudden-death penalties.

"Our players are not down, we tried our best,'' Lightbourne added. "I would rather lose to penalties than to lose 1-0 on the pitch. At least you are giving it your all.

"The conditions weren't the best, it was snowing in the daytime, the pitch was heavy and it was real windy. We put our all into it and that's all the manager asked for.'' Walsall, third in the standings, will be looking to stay in the Third Division promotion hunt when they travel to mid-table Torquay tomorrow.

The team have a nine-day break after that but Lightbourne will not get the chance to return home for Christmas...the life of a professional athlete does not always allow such luxuries! "After Saturday we don't have a game until the 27th and then it will be four games inside a week, on the Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Monday.

"If we can get some good results it will probably open a gap between the top five and the middle part of the tables. Everything is so close right now.'' Walsall -- and Lightbourne -- have not been spared the harsh English weather.

"I played with gloves last night and that was the first time I've played in gloves this season,'' said the Bermudian.

KYLE LIGHTBOURNE -- Dislocated shoulder may require surgery.