Shaun Goater should not worry too much if Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan targets a new striker when the transfer window opens in January.

The Blues manager believes a quality frontman should be the priority when it comes to bringing in additional players in the New Year.

But he said that does not mean that it is the end of the road for any of his existing forwards and even hinted at a change of tactics which could see him play three up front instead of the customary two.

Bermudian Goater, who has bagged four goals this season, currently occupies one of the starting berths with record signing Nicolas Anelka alongside him.

But since netting a pair to bring his City tally to 100 in the 3-1 win over arch rivals Manchester United four games ago, Goater has not found the target and could find himself under pressure from a resurgent Darren Huckerby if things do not change soon.

City also have Jon Macken and Paulo Wanchope - both recovering from long term injuries - and Matias Vuoso in their ranks.

But despite the strength in depth Keegan is adamant he needs to add another name to the stable.

"In an ideal world I want to bring in a striker when the transfer window opens in January," he said. "But that doesn't mean to say, football being what it is, that it will be more difficult for Darren Huckerby, Shaun Goater, Jon Macken or Paulo Wanchope when they come back.

"All it means is that there is another opportunity to forge a partnership with someone and of course we may decide to play three up front sometimes, a lot of other sides do.

"Players must not always see other players coming in as the end - it could be the beginning of something."

City do not play this weekend - their next match is on Monday night in front of the Sky TV cameras at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

After their win against Bolton last week, the clash with the third bottom Black Cats represents another proverbial `six-pointer' with 13th placed City looking to move away from the basement half of the table.

Meanwhile, Keegan has hailed the re-emergence of Australian international Danny Tiatto, and says his return to the City side has helped the club clamber away from the relegation zone.

The midfielder was dropped earlier this season as a disciplinary measure after receiving a red card for his dangerous tackle on Blackburn's David Thompson.

He was reintroduced six games ago and Keegan believes his return has helped City no end.

"Danny has been a real plus to us this season having had the bad start by getting himself sent off stupidly," said Keegan.

"A bit like Richard Dunne, he has looked at himself and thought that if he wants to get in on a regular basis then there are things which he has to do.He has to control himself, and that is what he is doing."

Keegan insists Tiatto can improve his game if he continues to curb his aggressive edge and learns to adapt to a less spectacular role.

"I still think there is improvement in Danny Tiatto. He has urgency and determination. I think the problem last season was maybe when the team got relegated he was a very important player and won the Player of the Year award because he could go past players.

"But I said to him that we have three or four like that now and that he has to concentrate on some of the other aspects of his game. I think he is trying to do that. He is looking, he is listening and trying very hard.

"That is why he has got back in the side and I think it is no coincidence that since Danny has got back in the side we have looked a more resolute team with his energy and determination which has never been questioned."

Meanwhile, Bermuda's other professional Kyle Lightbourne has a date with the TV cameras when Macclesfield tackle a potentially tricky FA Cup tie with Vauxhall Motors tonight.

The match-up between the Third Division side and the non-league minnows will be shown across the UK and may also be viewed on Channel 53 in Bermuda at 4 p.m.

On paper Macclesfield should progress but Vauxhall Motors of the UniBond Premier Division put out Second Division Queens Park Rangers in the last round and Lightbourne and company will take them lightly at their peril.

That said Macclesfield boss Dave Moss believes his side can avoid the banana skin.

"Vauxhall deserved their win in the last round, but QPR under-performed," he said. "You cannot escape the fact that they are in the UniBond League.

"We can't go out thinking that they are world-beaters. If you had given me a choice of draw, I would have picked a non-league club at home."