City this weekend than by scoring two goals against neighbours Stockport to take him to the 20-goal mark for the fourth straight season.

A few more goals after that would do nicely too, especially as City are relying on their new 400,000 signing's goals to move them out of the relegation zone in the First Division.

"That's important, I want to play my part to help the team avoid the drop,'' said Goater yesterday from his hotel room in Manchester.

After six years in Yorkshire with Rotherham and two more with Bristol City, Goater has come the full cycle with his move back to Manchester, the same city where he spent two seasons from 1989 learning the trade with Manchester United.

The gulf is vast between the two clubs, with United at the top of the Premier Division and heading towards another title while City are facing a first ever season in the Second Division. Even so, Goater has no regrets about the move to a club that is still one of the biggest in the country.

"We're third from the bottom and still getting crowds of 27,000,'' Goater points out.

"I feel this is a bigger club than most Premiership clubs. I think my chances are better than going to a Premiership club. I have no doubt this is the right decision.'' Goater has a four year contract with his new club which would take him to the age of 32. In that time he is hoping to fulfill his dream of playing in the top division in England, which was his ambition when he went to England nine years ago.

That's essentially what he told Total Football magazine, when asked why he turned down a lucrative new contract offer from Bristol City, a club on the move. "It's a burning desire to make the absolute most of my career,'' the Bermudian international said in the magazine's March issue.

"I don't want to look back at the end of my playing days and regret a single thing. I don't want to wonder `what if'.'' Goater at home in Manchester And yesterday, he spelled out his intentions with his new club: "I'm looking to be a regular in Manchester City's team and if I'm playing regularly I can be amongst the top scorers.'' Goater's scoring exploits in the bottom two divisions has had bigger clubs taking note. When he signed for City on transfer deadline day last Thursday he was careful to join a club where he would have a chance to play regularly.

Considering he could have transferred for free at the end of the season, Goater rates the money City paid for him as "quite a lot for a deadline day move.'' If they can survive, Goater feels the club has the potential to be challenging for a Premiership place next season.

"That would definitely be the club's ambition, to get back into the Premiership,'' he says.

"I'm sure in the summer there will be more buys and they will be looking to strengthen the squad. I feel now I will be amongst the first choice of the strikers if I do the business.'' Goater and his wife Anita have taken the last few days to get familiar again with Manchester. But when it comes to the team he knows he will have to settle in quickly.

"I'm trying to get myself settled in as quickly as possible,'' he acknowledged. "I don't have the time to play and get adjusted, I have to get to know the players quicker than ever before because of the situation we are in.'' Goater's former club, Bristol City, took over sole possession of first place in the Second Division with a 2-1 away win over Oldham on Tuesday night.