Shawn Goater joined Manchester City earlier this year because he felt he could move into the big time with one of English football's biggest clubs. But instead he's facing the possibility of yet another season in the Second Division after a poor start to the season has left City languishing in mid-table with only five wins in their first 15 matches.

City were tipped as promotion favourites in their first-ever season in the Second Division, but they have failed to live up to that potential despite attracting the best crowds.

The division is being led by another relegated club, Kyle Lightbourne's Stoke City, who regained sole possession of first place with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Wigan at the weekend. While Lightbourne has only managed two goals this season, Stoke have won twice as many games as Manchester City.

Last weekend in front of a home crowd of about 27,000 fans, City's players were again booed off the field after going down 1-0 to Reading.

As a result the players have been summoned to two training sessions a day and will even train today, their usual day off.

"Normally we train hard on Mondays and Tuesdays and have Wednesdays off,'' explained Goater yesterday. "He (manager Joe Royle) has got us working hard and some of the lads are not too happy.

"It's a big concern. Everybody expected us to be top of the table for the majority of the season. We're not scoring too many goals and the fact is we are also unable to keep clean sheets.'' Royle has already read the riot act, warning that players' places in the team are not assured.

"There's been talk of new players coming in, about four players,'' said Goater, the team's top scorer with 10 goals.

"Players' positions are up for grabs and they could go out and replace them.

In the papers they said he's been looking at four players, two wingers, a midfielder and a centre back.'' Striker Lee Bradbury, who cost the club 3 million has failed to live up to expectations and is on the verge of joining Crystal Palace for half that amount.

"He was supposed to have gone to Crystal Palace today to have talks about a contract,'' revealed Goater. "The club paid 3 million and he has had the weight of that price tag on his shoulders.'' There is pressure for the club all around, as they live in the shadows of Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

"These pressures come with the club,'' said Goater who also pointed to lost revenue from television by being out of the top two divisions.

"There are so many financial rewards for the club,'' he added.

"At Manchester City the crowds are bigger than some Premiership teams. All my career I've always been at clubs that have been looking to gain promotion.'' City are at home again this weekend against Colchester who are near the bottom of the table. And it's an important fixture as they try to bridge the 10-point gap between themselves and Stoke.

"I see that as the home game to turn things around,'' said Goater.

"At home we should be playing better and we're not. Looking at that fixture early in the season we would have been thinking goals and three points but we are playing well below our capabilities.'' Goater recently became the first player in the division to reach double digits in goals -- a target he reached faster than last season, which could put him on course for a possible 30-goal campaign. His previous best has been 25.

"I would like to be aiming at that (30),'' he stated. "I've never done it but that's what my challenge is.

"When I came here I thought I should be getting loads of chances.. . and I have been.'' SHAWN GOATER -- City's top goalscorer with 10.