Shaun Goater will have been a frustrated onlooker as Manchester City moved to within touching distance of the English Premiership yesterday.

Goater was benched for the crucial match at second-placed Wolves which the Blues won 2-0 thanks to a pair from young Shaun Wright-Phillips.

And his involvement in the rest of the campaign, which has three games to run, could now be in jeopardy despite his record-breaking goal return.

Goater has scored 30 times this season, one more than his previous best while in England, but, crucially, he has only hit the back of the net once in the last nine games.

That allowed new record signing Jon Macken to start at Molineux yesterday and with the Bermudian facing a one-match ban for Saturday's game against Barnsley, his involvement in the rest of the campaign could be in doubt.

City only need a point to secure their place in the Premiership just a year after they were relegated from the top flight.

Barnsley, fighting desperately against relegation, should, on paper at least, prove an easy picking for Kevin Keegan's men.

If that theory proves correct then the manager may opt to either stick with Macken and Darren Huckerby up front for the final two games.

Or if the title is wrapped up as well come the end of the weekend he could even feasibly decide to blood some youngsters.

It all adds up to a potentially frustrating time for Goater, who surely would have swapped some of his goals early on in the season for some around now.

Come Saturday he could find himself sat in the stands while his team-mates are celebrating on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Kyle Lightbourne's temporary switch to Hull has still to find gear, the Tigers slipping out of Third Division play-off contention with each passing game.

Yesterday they lost to promotion-chasing Cheltenham 1-0.