Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan has given his broadest hint yet that he may have found the ideal partner for Nicolas Anelka in Shaun Goater.

The Blues' boss has been shuffling his pack trying to find the ideal combination to drag the Maine Road club out of their Premiership mire.

And although they crashed to another defeat at the weekend - 3-0 at home to Chelsea - Keegan was full of praise for the Frenchman and the Bermudian.

It was Goater's first start in the top flight this season - previously he has had to make do with a place on the bench as Keegan has played Anelka on his own or with Darren Huckerby - and although he did not score he did fashion a couple of chances.

In one he was hauled back by defender Marcel Desailly as he headed for a one-on-one with the Chelsea goalkeeper. However, the referee saw no infringement and waved play on.

Said Keegan of his strike duo afterwards: “The pair of them were terrific. They did everything but score. But I am afraid it is goals that win you football matches and goals that turn football matches.

“There were a lot of good things, including the movement and application from the strikers, but they got lost in the scoreline.”

Goater hopes to be included alongside Anelka when City take on Premiership newcomers Birmingham City at St. Andrews on Saturday.