If Shaun Goater is frustrated about the broken toe that has ruled him out of Manchester City's opening game on their return to the Premiership then the same goes for boss Kevin Keegan.

City travel to Elland Road for a potentially mouthwatering clash with Terry Venables new charges on Saturday. But Goater will have to watch from the stands as his toe has not healed sufficiently enough for him to take to the field.

Goater played 45 minutes for the City second string last night as they made a winning start to their League campaign against Bradford City last night.

"Shaun will play in the reserves which will be his first match since he picked up the injury against Huddersfield in pre-season three weeks ago," said Keegan yesterday prior to the 1-0 victory. "He has rested the toe and he has then trained with it so we now feel he needs a game.

"He will have a little bit of pain from it now and then but the physio is happy for him to play and Shaun wants to play."

With fellow strikers Darren Huckerby and Jon Macken also picking up knocks Keegan has had his number of options up front reduced dramatically. Paulo Wanchope is in Costa Rica recovering from an operation undertaken in the US and there were reports of minor niggles to Matias Vuoso and ?13-million signing Nicolas Anelka, although the latter two are expected to be fit for the weekend.

Had Goater been ready he might have forced himself into the manager's thoughts for the Leeds game and certainly Keegan hinted that might have been the case.

"The injury is a shame for him because in pre season he was looking as sharp as anybody," he said. "When I came to the club people told me that Shaun needed two or three weeks to get going but he hasn't this year. He came back very sharp."

If all goes well with the expected recovery then the striker could be back knocking on the selection door within a fortnight.

"He should be back in contention certainly if not for the Newcastle game then for the trip to Aston Villa," said Keegan.