though the record signing of Romanian Viorel Moldovan makes competition for places even tougher.

Moldovan was recently signed for a club record 3.25 million from Swiss Grasshoppers and could make his debut this weekend against Chelsea if his work permit is approved in time. Last week when he arrived at Heathrow Airport he was delayed for 90 minutes by immigration officials.

To make room for Moldovan, it has been anticipated that Coventry will sell some players. Top scorer Dion Dublin has been linked to a 3.75 million move to Leicester City, with Crystal Palace also having apparently shown interest in the player.

But manager Gordon Strachan disclosed yesterday that Coventry were offering Dublin a new contract worth 2 million. If he agrees to a three-year extension of his present contract which expires in 18 months, Dublin's earnings would be boosted to 10,000 a week.

"The bottom line is that we do not want to lose Dion Dublin because he is one of our best players,'' Strachan said of the 28-year-old Manchester United striker With Dublin's present strike partner, Darren Huckerby, also playing superbly of late, Lightbourne realises he faces a major task in breaking back into the first team. Including Moldovan, the club now have six first team strikers to choose from.

"He (Strachan) said to me about three weeks ago that he was looking to bring in another striker and just said I would have to be patient,'' said Lightbourne yesterday.

"He didn't say anything about selling me but I'm sure if the club gets offers they will look at it.'' Moldovan, who has trained twice with his new team-mates, is expected to go right into the team, especially considering the money the club have forked out. "You can't really judge him yet, the conditions haven't been too good for training,'' Lightbourne explained.

"Once the weather improves then we will be able to see. I don't know if he will be involved this week but I'm sure he will be involved at some stage.'' Lightbourne is taking the arrival of Moldovan in his stride. "I'm sure some players felt like that when I arrived,'' said Lightbourne, who joined City from Second Division Walsall last summer on a four-year contract.

"I always said from the beginning I would give myself until Christmas. I'm not impatient, I knew I had to go through this when I arrived.

"I don't regret it at all. I'm not downbeat, I still have my head high.

"All this doesn't mean that I'm not learning. I feel I've learned a lot since I've been at the club.'' The club have been going through a good spell recently, following up a win in the league over Manchester United with a 3-1 away victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Lightbourne was not among the subs in the weekend match but did come on for the last 20 minutes recently against West Ham after Coventry had a man sent off.

A reserve match on Monday against Wolves fell victim to the weather, which again robbed Lightbourne of playing time.

"I haven't played a full game in over a month,'' Lightbourne pointed out.

"That's been the most frustrating part about it. I do have a good record in the reserves... nine games, eight goals.'' His goal for the new year? "To get in the team and hold down a regular spot and start scoring some goals which I know I can do, given the right opportunity,'' he stated. "It's a big step but now that I've had my settling in period it's time for me to step up the pace and look for a spot.

"I'm sure a lot of people in Bermuda must be wondering what has happened to me but people have to remember that this is possibly the best league in the world, next to Italy.''