steadily following surgery to repair torn knee cartilage -- but he'll be sitting on the sidelines when City make their long-awaited return to the Premier Division today against Charlton Athletic.

Goater recently began light jogging, while continuing to receive treatment from the English Premier team's physiotherapist.

"It's coming along not too bad,'' said Goater, who pulled up lame during a pre-season friendly against Northern Ireland side Linfield back in July.

"I've just started some light jogging and I'm also lifting light weights.

"It's hard to say when I will be able to start training with the team, but at this moment everything is going okay.'' The 30-year-old striker has been replaced in the City line-up by former World Footballer of the Year George Weah, who will likely have Shaun Wright-Phillips as his strike partner for today's season opener.

Weah and Wright-Phillips teamed in the first half of City's hotly contested match against arch rivals Manchester United on Wednesday, in honour of Denis Irwin. United won the match 2-0 with goals from Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole either side of the interval.

"The boys are in good spirits,'' added Goater. "We lost 2-0, but we played two different sides in each half.

"The first half we played close to the side that we will put out on Saturday and I feel we were fairly evenly contested. From that I feel we can go to Charlton and come away with a good result.''