Shaun Goater's Premiership plans have been thrown into disarray after the Manchester City striker fractured his toe in a pre-season game.

It is the second time the Bermudian hitman has fallen foul of injury on the eve of a Premiership season. The last time City were in the top flight was in the 1999/2000 season and he was out until the end of the year with a knee problem.

He still ended up as the club's top scorer but City were relegated and the fans were left wondering what might have been if Goater had been fit.

This latest setback came as Goater prepared to accompany the Bermudian team at the opening of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Playing in an Under-19 match against Huddersfield he went up for a header with a Terriers' youngster who landed with his studs between one of Goater's toes.

He played on until the 60th minute thinking the bone was merely bruised but an X-ray later on revealed the full extent of the damage.

Goater said he was left thinking: “God, why does this have to happen to me?” when the prognosis was given and he was told he would face six to eight weeks on the sidelines.

That means he misses the first match of the season against Leeds United on August 17 . . . and possibly three or four subsequent games.

Even when he recovers full fitness he may find himself out of action as it is highly likely Kevin Keegan will have found someone else to partner French international and record signing Nicolas Anelka. Although Paulo Wanchope is facing surgery in the US for the recurrence of a knee ailment, Keegan also has the services of Matias Vuoso, Jon Macken and Darren Huckerby at his disposal.

“It is a blow really,” Goater told The Royal Gazette, trying his best to hide his disappointment. “The last time we were in this situation (Premiership) I was injured and I did not get back until October or November.”

A supremely positive thinker Goater said there was one crumb of comfort.

“The one pleasing thing is that we still have three weeks of pre-season for it to heal,” he said. “They are saying it will be anything between six and eight weeks but that timescale does not include getting fit and back playing.”

Goater said prior and subsequent to the fateful moment it had been a “memorable” day for him.

In the morning he had an early alarm call as he was called upon to carry the Queen's Jubilee Baton on its route to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The Islander's leg began at 6.30 a.m. in the area around Maine Road, home of Manchester City. Later that evening the baton arrived at the Games' stadium, where Manchester United and England star David Beckham handed it to the Queen.

Minutes earlier Goater had been at the head of the Bermudian delegation as they marched around the stadium in a parade of the 72 competing nations.

“I could have said no,” said Goater, referring to the injury. “But there was no way I was going to miss it. It was a very proud moment and it was all about the athletes.

“I just had to find myself a pair of comfortable shoes and grin and bear it. The adrenalin kept me going but at one point they asked us to walk faster and I started to feel it. When we walked off my foot was throbbing!”