Bermuda's World Cup qualifying hopes were dealt a major blow yesterday with confirmation that star striker Shaun Goater has been ruled out of Sunday's all-important second round return leg clash against El Salvador at the National Sports Centre.

The Reading striker suffered a calf strain in his right leg while training with the national squad early last week and only played 58 minutes of last weekend's 2-1 first-leg loss to the Salvadoreans in Central America.

As he left the Custaclan Stadium following last Sunday's match, Goater told The Royal Gazette: “I'd have to say my chances aren't very good”.

The player's words couldn't have been more prophetic as he will now have to play his role as team leader from the sidelines where he'll be urging on his team-mates on Sunday evening.

“I won't be available for Sunday,” Goater confirmed yesterday. “I've seen a physio here and spoken to my physio back in England. And from the diagnosis I have received I've injured the fibula muscle and so I certainly won't be available for Sunday.”

Although national coach Kenny Thompson would prefer to have Goater among his arsenal, he is still confident his squad possess sufficient firepower to get the job done on Sunday.

Thompson was due to select his final squad of 18 following last night's practise session at the NSC.

He said yesterday: “We can't replace Shaun with another player of his experience. But we still have capable players who can make an impact on the game.”

Asked whether Goater's omission had forced him to rethink his game plan, Thompson replied with an emphatic: “no!”

Despite the injury, Goater remained upbeat over the Island's chances of achieving their objective in front of home support.

Bermuda need a 1-0 win to advance through to the next phase of the World Cup qualifiers.

“I think we are fairly confident because we now have a better idea of what El Salvador are like as a team. I think more than anything what affected us in terms of our performance in El Salvador was the weather - the humidity was around 90 percent and that really hurt us,” he explained.

“Our players couldn't find a change of pace or extra burst of energy that was needed and they were certainly more acclimatised to the weather than we were.

“Walking around the stadium it seemed very similar to an ordinary Bermuda day, but in terms of the humidity I know it affected our performance.”

He added: “When I look at the result (2-1) I think it was a tremendous result considering the last time (1992) we went to El Salvador and lost 4-1. So that shows you just how much we have improved and how better we are as a team.”

Goater urged his team-mates to take full advantage of playing on familiar turf on the carpet.

“If we can keep a clean sheet in the first 20 minutes, then I think we could certainly go on to score a goal against the Salvadorean team. And we certainly have a threat with the players we have,” he added.

Two adjustments coach Thompson might make to the team in Goater's absence could involve elevating retired pro Kyle Lightbourne to striker and inserting the experienced Meshach Wade - who didn't travel to El Salvador - in midfield.

“Someone like Meshach (Wade) could be called upon and his experience would certainly be helpful. There are just so many possibilities and whichever adjustments coach Thompson makes I still feel confident we can get the job done and advance to the next stage,” Goater added.

It is also doubtful Goater will rejoin his colleagues at Reading on the pitch when pre-season training begins at the end of the month.

“Hopefully the injury won't set me too far back with regards to preparation. Hopefully I will only miss the first week of pre-season training. But the main thing for me at the moment is to give it (injury) the rest that's needed to ensure it heals and doesn't break down again,” he said.

Goater is due to depart for the UK on June 26.