unfortunately at the expense of Rotherham team-mate Des Hazel who broke a bone in his foot last weekend in the match against Bristol Rovers.

Goater came on to replace Hazel in that 1-1 draw and stayed in the team for the League Cup first-leg match in midweek against Portsmouth, which finished scoreless.

Now he is eagerly looking forward to getting amongst the goals, beginning with today's tough away match against second-placed Stockport.

"Things have turned around slightly and it has given me five to six weeks to show I deserve to be in the team,'' said Goater yesterday. "I didn't want to get in the team through injury but it's a chance for me.'' Goater will play wide on the wing in a 4-4-2 formation, which sees new signings Imre Varadi and Ian Halliwell as the two strikers. Varadi, a former Premier League player, is the Rotherham top scorer with eight goals in nine games. Halliwell has scored just once in 10 games.

"I'm looking to try to get on the scoresheet,'' said Goater. "Things have been going well for me this week in training.'' Meanwhile, Kyle Lightbourne travels to Darlington with Third Division side Walsall today but does not know if he will be included in the squad.

Lightbourne scored twice for the Walsall reserves in a 5-0 win over Northampton in midweek.

SHAWN GOATER -- Looking for a first-team run.