Manchester City manager Joe Royle's recent interest in international strikers Karl Heinz-Riedle of Germany and Cameroon's Patrick Suffo has led to speculation that his current strikeforce of Bermudian Shawn Goater and Paul Dickov could be on the way out.

But the Maine Road boss insists nothing could be further from the truth.

Royle readily admits he's looked at the former German international and the trial he offered Suffo created the impression he was in the market for a new forward.

However, in a recent article in the Manchester Evening News, Royle said he remained perfectly happy with the present combination of Goater and Dickov whose goals have led City to the top of the English First Division.

"Every time we are linked with a striker I read somewhere that I am about to replace either Shawn or Paul and, frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of it,'' said Royle.

"Let me say once and for all that I am delighted at the way both Goater and Dickov have played this season. You would have to to go a long way to find a better striking combination -- at least outside the Premiership.

"We invited Suffo for trials at Maine Road and the lad looked a very promising player. But I let him go back to Nantes because he wouldn't have improved the quality of our strike force. That's how highly I rate Shawn and Dickie...and Gareth Taylor, come to that.

"What iritates me is that there is never all this speculation when I go and look at a midfielder or a defender.'' Goater scored Saturday's winner in the crucial 1-0 away victory over second-placed Charlton Athletic, the London club's first home loss of the season.

"We would have settled for a point,'' admitted Goater. "The two of us up front were praying for just one chance and eventually I got it.'' Now the bookmakers have made City favourites for promotion, strengthening their odds from 10-3 to 7-4 while Charlton have gone from 6-4 to 5-2.

Goater netted 21 goals last season for City as they gained promotion out of the Second Division via the play-offs. This season, although hampered by a nagging hamstring injury, he has already produced eight goals, returning from a three-match absence on Saturday to score with a 48th minute header.

This will be an important week for City as tonight they meet fourth-placed Barnsley before taking on second-placed Huddersfield on Saturday.

Both matches are at Maine Road and if City, who haven't dropped a point at home since their opening day loss to Wolves, come through with maximum points they will be well on their way to clinching one of the two automatic promotion spots.

At 400,000 when he signed from Bristol City two years ago, Goater has proven a real bargain for City who were recently checking on a Second Division player rated at more than a million pounds.

"The Americans have an expression along the lines of if something isn't broken, don't fix it,'' said Royle.

"Well, my strike force isn't broken. In fact it's working extremely well so there is nothing to mend. I am more than satisfied with the lads who play up front.

"In some ways Shawn gets a bit of a raw deal from our supporters. I can understand why, to a point. He can look a bit ungainly at times.

"But I can tell you this, I would rather have one Shawn Goater in my team than any amount of Fancy Dans, who only play for themselves. And this club has had a few of them!'' Added Royle: "Shawn is as honest as the day is long. Sure, he misses chances occasionally, but that is because he is always brave enough to have a go. He takes responsibility himself instead of passing the buck to a team-mate.

"It's funny really. The fans were questioning his scoring rate last season until they suddenly realised that he had put away 21 goals.

"They said he wouldn't score as consistently in a higher division but he's got seven in a dozen games so far this season. It just makes you wonder sometimes what more Shawn has got to do to win over the fans.'' Royle doesn't deny he is constantly on the look-out for players, because no manager is totally satisfied with his senior squad.

"It is entirely possible that before the end of this season I will bring in another striker,'' the manager conceded.

"But he would compete with Shawn and Dickov for a place in the first team. He wouldn't be brought in to replace either of them. Like I said earlier, you don't fix something which isn't broken.'' Shawn Goater: highly rated by Manchester City boss Joe Royle.