Shaun Goater is determined to battle Nicolas Anelka and the rest of the big names for a place in Kevin Keegan's Manchester City side.

The rumour mill has linked the 32-year old, who hammered home more than 30 goals in last season's triumphant promotion season, with a potentially lucrative move away from Maine Road.

But Bermudian Goater is far more interested in seeing out the remaining two years of his contract as a first team player than cashing in on his goal poaching reputation.

He accepts that first team opportunities are certain to be more limited than in previous campaigns, but is ready to throw his hat in the ring and do what he can for the cause.

The news of the continuing knee problems of Paulo Wanchope, who may miss the whole season, have meant his services are much more likely to be needed.

“I am in no hurry to leave City, I have worked hard to get where I am and this is a very happy time for me and the club,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “There is a change happening at this club and it is certainly going places.

“I know there is a lot of competition but I am up for any challenge. It is good to be in that dressing room and saying ‘I am amongst this'.

“I have set a target in my mind about a particular number of games I would like to start but I am not going to reveal what it is. I just want to avoid getting injured in pre-season. Last time I was in the Premiership I missed a chunk of the season.”

Goater said he wanted to be fit and available for the first game.

“You never know what happens in football. Players get suspensions, injuries and lose form and managers change systems and like what they see from certain partnerships,” he said. “We will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Goater said he paid little heed to talk of him quitting the Blues.

“I hear about the stories linking me with various clubs and one or two of the lads make comments or crack a joke but there is something in one newspaper or another every day that is totally false,” he said. “I am happy here and I get the feeling that the gaffer is happy me being here.”