Bristol City's top scorer, Bermudian Shawn Goater, is battling to recover from an injury in time for the team's biggest home match of the season -- against leaders Millwall on Saturday.

Goater `hyper-extended' his knee midway through the first half of Saturday's away match against Stockport when he stood on the ball.

After failing to shake off the injury, the striker limped off the field a few minutes later.

Now Goater, who has not trained this week, is struggling to recover in time for the visit of the Second Division leaders, a match that is expected to attract a crowd of around 12,000.

"It's definitely something that I want to be a part of,'' said Goater yesterday.

He has netted 10 league and cup goals for City this season, making him the second highest scorer in the division and already one of the best bargain buys of the summer at 175,000 which City paid his former club, Rotherham, who are now struggling at the foot of the table.

"Right now it's still touch and go as to whether or not I'll be fit. I'll leave it as long as possible, until Friday or even until a fitness test on Saturday.

"I want to train at least once through the week before going into a game. I don't like, if I'm injured, not to do anything all week and then play. The good thing is it hasn't swelled up, but it's still sore.'' The injury could not have come at a worse time as the club are enjoying a seven game unbeaten run in the league, with their last defeat at home to then leaders Brentford on October 1.

Since then City have established a reputation as being a feared team at Ashton Gate, having scored more goals at home -- 21 -- than any other club in the division.

"This is a game when we could be become known as a fortress at home,'' said Goater.

"The goals are going in and things are working well for us. Millwall are top of the table and doing well.

"This is another chance to challenge a team at the top of the table and show that we are a difficult place to come to and get points.'' So close is the promotion race in the division that City rose from ninth to fifth with an away win over Bournemouth and then slipped back to seventh following a draw at Stockport on Saturday. Just six points separate them from the leaders.

"It only takes us to draw and lose one game and we could end up somewhere like 11th,'' said Goater. "It's very tight so we know it's important to take advantage of the home games.'' Goater is now joined at City by a former Manchester United team-mate, Clayton Blackmore, who is on loan from Middlesbrough.

The midfielder scored on Saturday in his debut and there remains a possibility of a permanent move to the club.

Blackmore came to Bermuda with Manchester United in 1989 when the club spotted Goater. But Blackmore made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he was involved in a highly publicised alleged incident involving a female visitor which received wide coverage in newspapers back in England. Charges were never pressed.

"The Bermuda thing I think he remembered straight away, but he didn't mention it,'' said Goater. "But I remember it.'' Goater has been grabbing his own headlines in Bristol and was recently involved in a photo shoot as promotion for the club's Christmas catalogue which is due out this week, advertising club merchandise. Goater is pictured on the cover along with Miss Bristol.

"They tell me I'm the flavour of the month,'' Goater joked. "It's nice to know I'm appreciated. I enjoyed it, in today's sports world players are asked to do these kinds of things.'' Goater is also close to signing a boot deal with Lotto who are the Bristol City sponsors, as well as sponsors of AC Milan and the Dutch national teams.

"Things are happening and it's nice to know I don't have to pay for my boots any more,'' said the Bermudian.