Shaun Goater will look to cement Manchester City's top three berth today when the Blues take on Crystal Palace.

But Kyle Lightbourne's miserable season continues as the striker has failed to regain match fitness in time to take his place in Macclesfield's FA Cup squad for the tie against Swansea.

Goater scored his 22nd goal of the campaign in the 3-2 away win at Millwall in midweek, City's third league win on the trot.

In what has been an inconsistent term for the Blues, a fourth successive victory today would signal the kind of form that is needed if they are to gain promotion back to the Premiership.

Lightbourne, meanwhile, has been missing from action for a considerable period and although his ankle injury is behind him he has only just begun full training and is not close to being available for selection.