A knee injury kept top scorer Shawn Goater out of Bristol City's biggest win of the season on Saturday -- a 9-2 hammering of non-league St. Albans in the English FA Cup.

Now the Bermudian striker is battling to get fit for the club's biggest game of the season ...Sunday's televised local derby against Bristol Rovers which will attract a sellout crowd of about 22,000 at City's ground, Ashton Gate.

"I've been told this is bigger than a lot of First Division derbies,'' said Goater yesterday.

Goater hasn't trained for a couple of weeks because of the injury which a scan revealed to be a slight tear of the ligament. However, the knee is improving and if the striker is able to train a couple of times this week he feels confident he can get a spot on the subs' bench.

"If I am sub I know I'll be alright for 20 minutes to a half hour, but being out two weeks I know my fitness has dropped somewhat,'' Goater explained.

"It has sort of recovered but the reason I've been out this long is because they were waiting for the results and they didn't want to set me back further.

It didn't require surgery which was good.

"They say it's a situation where I just have to gradually increase my work.

Sometimes you can do too much and set yourself back several weeks.'' Goater watched from the sidelines as City thrashed their opponents, with Australian Paul Agostino scoring four goals. It was the third straight match that Goater had missed and he couldn't help wondering how many goals he could have added to the 11 he has already netted this season.

"Some of them (chances) were there on the line saying `kick me in','' he recalled.

City, after failing to win their last two league games in Goater's absence, are just one place ahead of Rovers in the standings, having dropped down to 11th. They also have a game in hand over Rovers who trail by five points.

"Some of these fans would rather win against Bristol Rovers and not get promoted if they had a choice, which shows you the importance of the game,'' added Goater.

"It shows you how big this game is, it's all about territory. We just don't get involved in that when Dandy Town are playing North Village!'' Getting promoted is obviously City's main aim and Goater's goals have helped keep them in the promotion race as they recently went 10 games unbeaten.

"When we are in the top six our crowds can stay around 13 to 14,000,'' Goater stated.

Other than Rovers, there are few clubs in the area which helps City pull in big gates, the best in the division.

"Apart from Swindon and Southampton who are about 40 minutes and an hour away, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City are the only clubs in this area.'' The closest thing Goater came to experiencing a derby match was at Rotherham when they played Chesterfield who were about 35 minutes away. Just the fact that Sky Television are showing the Bristol derby `live' says something about the significance of the match.

Goater welcomed the news yesterday that Bermuda were returning to international competition in the new year in the Shell/Umbro Cup.

It is expected the BFA will call both Goater and Walsall's Kyle Lightbourne from their English clubs. FIFA have made stipulations allowing for players to be released by their clubs for international matches.

"I'm glad that has opened back up, to get back on the international scene,'' Goater said.

"I look around the other Caribbean islands who have invested money in their national teams and are going from strength to strength. Even Greg Goodridge who plays for us is going on about how Barbados have a Brazilian coach.'' For Goater there is probably some reservations about interrupting his season with his team in the promotion race. "I feel we've got a very good chance,'' he said.

"The last time I interrupted my season was in the World Cup, but I don't regret it because of the experience I had. It is important we are back there playing.'' Lightbourne joined Goater on 11 goals when he netted in injury time to earn Walsall a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup on Saturday against Burnley.

SHAWN GOATER -- missed out on last Saturday's FA Cup goal feast.