A compromise is in the air between Bermuda Football Association and Manchester City over Shaun Goater's call-up for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

City manager Joe Royle has been on the phone with BFA technical director Clyde Best, trying to make a deal that would suit both parties.

Goater's presence in the Bermuda team will be crucial if the country is to advance past the early qualifying rounds. But the in-form striker's English club are also fighting to have him available for important promotion matches.

City can probably do without Goater for the league game against Crystal Palace in early March, which clashes with Bermuda's first leg of the first round World Cup qualifier against the British Virgin Islands.

But the return leg two weeks later here in Bermuda is another matter as the match falls on the same weekend that City meet division leaders Charlton Athletic. Goater scored the goal which handed Charlton their only home loss when the clubs last met.

"I have had a chat with Clyde Best and he understands our position,'' said Royle on the City website.

"I am hopeful that a compromise can be reached. Bermuda play the two games in early March, if they win those then they will go on to play another two in the next stage of the competition.'' Added Royle: "So far Clyde has taken on board everything I have said. He and his directors are sympathetic. They see Shaun as a great ambassador for their country over here and don't want to spoil relationships.

"I expect to have an answer by the weekend and I am hopeful that something can be sorted out. But let's wait and see what happens.'' One of the suggestions Royle put to Best was for Goater to play against Crystal Palace on the Saturday and then hurry to the Virgin Islands for Bermuda's match the next day. But Best isn't in favour of that idea.

"I couldn't do that, no, that's killing him and killing what we're trying to do,'' said Best.

"Obviously we need these guys for our first game. What I did say to Joe is that he could probably have him for the second game when they play Charlton, but I want him to come and bag the goals in the first game.

"If we get four or five goals it shouldn't be a problem because we shouldn't concede that many at home. I don't mind working with him (Royle) on that but we do need him for the first game.'' Goater reached the 20-goal mark last weekend in the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest and Royle sees the partnership between the Bermudian and recent signing Robert Taylor as being a formidable one for City. Taylor scored City's opening goal and has also netted 20 for the season, 18 of them coming for Gillingham before his move to City in late November.

"I saw the potential of their relationship in the first game they played together,'' said the manager, himself a former top striker.

"It has just been a massive settling-in process for Robert. It has been a matter of getting consistent training, him getting over his injuries, getting over moving and (his wife) having a child.'' Taylor has only played a handful of games since he joined the club, having been sidelined by illness and injury.

"We are only talking about six or seven games here,'' Royle pointed out.

"During those games he has got a couple of goals, might have had three or four more, hit the woodwork and one or two people create a crisis because that is their want.

"I have never been less than pleased with him and I am sure he will get better and better.''