value to the promotion chasing club is immeasurable.

Manager Joe Royle alluded to that on the City Website this week when he spoke of how much the team had missed their top scorer against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Goater was away on international duty, leading the Bermuda scoring with a hat-trick in their 5-1 away win over the British Virgin Islands in a first round, first leg World Cup qualifier. City could only manage a 1-1 draw.

Royle praised Bermuda Football Association for the consideration they had shown to City's promotion aspirations. However, they can expect to be contacted by the BFA again soon, enquiring about the striker's release for second round matches in April against Antigua.

The games are scheduled for the weekends of April 2 and 16, the same weekends that City meet Swindon and Grimbsy in crucial promotion matches.

"Bermuda have been great and there have been no complaints about their part in the whole thing,'' said Royle.

"I just get slightly frustrated that we missed him and I don't think there is much chance of Bermuda winning the World Cup. We missed Shaun on Saturday in so much that he is always a threat.

"There were one or two balls flying across the box that made me think, `what if Shaun were there'? But Lee Peacock did fine.

"Robert Taylor did fine until he tired due to lack of match fitness. We were much improved and overall no complaints and when we came in and discovered the Ipswich score, it was a good point.'' Manager Royle says he was delighted that Goater notched a World Cup hat-trick, but was more pleased that the scoreline meant that the striker wouldn't miss the important games later this month between division leaders Charlton and Stockport.

The 30-year-old will return to the City team tonight for their home match against Queens Park Rangers, looking to add to his 23 goals. In less than two full seasons with City, Goater has netted 47 goals at better than a goal every other game.

When Bermuda and Antigua met in a first round World Cup qualifier in 1992, Bermuda won 3-0 at the Antigua Recreation Ground and then 2-1 in the return leg to easily clinch the tie.