Shaun Goater proved himself one of the hottest strikers in English football when he smashed a hat-trick last night to send Manchester City to the top of the league.

The Bermudian hitman fired his fifth goal in three days and his sixth since the First Division season started in City's 4-2 victory over local rivals and league high fliers Burnley.

Leading scorer for the past three seasons, Goater is rewarding the faith shown in him by manager Kevin Keegan.

Only a few weeks ago there was speculation the crowd favourite may be on his way out of Maine Road as Keegan set about his City revolution.

He was the subject of at least two bids with Wolves touted as favourites to get his signature.

It took public announcements by both Keegan and City chairman David Bernstein to quell the fans' fears that their hero was about to be sold. And now Goater is setting about proving what the faithful knew all along - that he is a match for any defence in the country.

Not satisfied with plundering a pair against Crewe in Saturday's 5-2 victory, Goater turned on the style again last night at Turf Moor.

He opened the scoring for the Blues in the 17th minute, his header from a right wing cross proving too hot for the Burnley goalkeeper.

Burnley, who Goater scored three goals against in a 6-0 win the last time City visited the Clarets in the league, struck back eight minutes later but City had the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot eight minutes before the break.

Burnley centre-half Gordon Armstrong palmed away a goalbound effort from Tony Grant and was inevitably sent off.

However, City failed to capitalise from the spot-kick, Kevin Horlock seeing his effort clawed out by the 'keeper.

The teams went in level at the break but Goater's strike partner, Costa Rican Paulo Wanchope put City back in front after 50 minutes with another powerful header.

They were pegged back again within two minutes though, Lee Briscoe hitting a deflected shot past goalkeeper Nicky Weaver.

But City and Goater refused to lie down and from the 62nd minute onwards it was all about the Bermudian.

A high ball into the box fell to Goater and his deflected shot rifled into the roof of the net to put City 3-2 up.

He was desperately unlucky not to secure his hat-trick when he saw his a shot come back off the inside of the post after some neat play. But the third goal was not long in coming.

With four minutes to go Goater found himself one on one with the goalkeeper and he deftly sidestepped him and placed the ball into the empty net for 4-2 and a night he will not forget for a long time.

"We had to be at our best and I think we were tonight," was boss Keegan's initial response to the game which gave City their first away points of the season. "We played some good football, created some good openings and caused them problems not just when they went down to 10 men but when they had 11."

Tomorrow: Shaun Goater looks back at his five goal weekend, only in The Royal Gazette.

l Unfortunately, Kyle Lightbourne's miserable start to the season with Macclesfield continued yesterday. The Silkmen, still looking for their first win, were thumped 4-0 by Mansfield Town in the Third Division.