Kevin Keegan yesterday issued a ‘hands off' warning to clubs who are thinking of trying to lure Shaun Goater away from Manchester City.

The City boss was responding to reports which linked First Division club Portsmouth with a bid for the Bermudian striker.

Goater has yet to figure in the starting line up for the Premiership side as he only just recovered from a broken toe suffered in pre-season.

However, the Football Association in England has instituted a new transfer deadline and the doors closes on moves between clubs this Saturday.

Consequently there has been feverish activity up and down England over the past few days.

A Portsmouth spokesman said on Wednesday that there was nothing “official” to say about the Goater situation, but did not rule out a move.

However, Keegan reacted quickly to quash any talk of last season's 32-goal frontman quitting Manchester.

“I couldn't afford to lose Shaun,” he said. “He has been on the bench for all three games so far and has been flying in training.

“He is very sharp and very fit. He wants to play and he will get the chance at some time. He has just got to be patient. His attitude is spot on.”

City's attack is currently at the feet of ?13-million Frenchman Nicolas Anelka and Darren Huckerby, with Goater No.3 in the pecking order. Jon Macken remains in the physio's room, Argentine Matias Vuoso is still settling in and Paulo Wanchope is ruled out until the New Year following a knee operation in the US.

Goater's opportunity to stamp his authority on the Premiership may come sooner rather than later if Keegan's comments following City's dismal 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday night are anything to go by.

Never one to sit on the fence, Keegan said Anelka, who is yet to open his account since moving from Paris St. Germain, and Huckerby had gone from “looking a good pair on Saturday” in the 1-0 win over Newcastle, to appearing “like they had never played together”.

As a result Goater may get the call this weekend.

“The players have given me the option to change things against Everton,” Keegan said. “There will be one or two on the bench who will think they can do better, and on that performance (Villa) they would be right.”

Goater himself has always said that the only team he wants to play his football for is Manchester City.

And while he knows he will the subject of speculation from time to time, he is not allowing it to unsettle him and is focusing on the job at hand.

“My job is to be ready and take my chance when it comes,” he said. “I have been working hard and getting sharper all the time, so if, and when, I get the call I will be able to do the team and myself justice.”

Premiership newcomers West Bromwich Albion, who were also rumoured to be interested in Goater, yesterday solved their search for a striker by signing their former frontman Lee Hughes in a ?2.5 million deal from Coventry.