Shaun Goater's goal tally has won over his new boss and helped to rid any doubts Kevin Keegan may have had about the Bermudian's ability.

A record of 20 goals in 19 games speaks for itself but before the season began there had been talk of Goater being sold.

"We had offers for Shaun at the start of the season," explained boss Keegan,"But we didn't want to sell him and now people can see why. We thought he would score goals in this Division, though I don't think we imagined he would have 20 by this stage."

However, Keegan said he would not allow his frontman to rest on his laurels.

"I think he can go on and improve. In terms of his fitness he works very hard and is always with (fitness coach) Juan Carlos Osario asking him questions and because of the way he is as a person, I don't see why he cannot continue to improve," said the manager.

Injury robbed the striker of the chance to make an early impact in his first season in the Premiership last year. It was December before he found the target for the first time, that in a match against Everton at Maine Road. The goals began to flow and he banged in five goals in the final 11 games of the season.

"People will always ask if Shaun will get goals in the Premiership, but he can say that the last time he was there he did pretty well," said Keegan.

"Darren and Paulo (Wanchope) have got goals in the Premiership as well so we have three strikers who have all scored at that level. Of all those Shaun is obviously the least experienced because of his injury, but his goal tally was excellent and in this Division it is incredible.

"His greatest asset is that he is there to miss them as well. He doesn't get his head down if he misses one he just comes back again to score or miss again. He is not one of those who thinks that it is not going very well and so goes and hides."

Kyle Lightbourne missed out on Macclesfield's trip to Southend last night after injuring his ankle in the draw with Carlisle United.

Lightbourne scored in the fixture last week, but told Goater that he had not been fully fit.

Without their star striker Macclesfield went down 3-0.