Shaun Goater is set to miss Manchester City's pre-season tour of Denmark.

But the Bermudian striker says he does not believe his absence will lead to him being shunted down the pecking order as Kevin Keegan sets about deciding on his preferred strikeforce for City's return to the Premiership.

Instead of taking part in a tournament at FC Aarhus and a warm-up match against HFK Sonderjylland next week, Goater will be leading Bermuda's Commonwealth Games team out in his adopted Manchester home.

The frontman has accepted the role of the Island's attach? for the two week sporting event and will take part in the opening ceremony next Thursday. He will also be on hand to give help and assistance to the Island's athletes should they need information about the city.

However, by accepting the honour it means he will be left behind when his fellow strikers take to the field in Scandinavia.

The tour will be the first opportunity for Keegan to see ?13 million signing Nicolas Anelka and Argentine youngster Matias Vuoso in action, while also making the trip will be Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope, just returned from the World Cup, Darren Huckerby and relative `new boy' Jon Macken.

With six players vying for two spots Keegan has a wealth of talent at his disposal but Goater does not believe any drastic decisions will be made in the next couple of weeks.

"Everyone will be playing half games instead of full games so I am not too overly concerned about missing that," he said of the trip. "It's a case of everyone getting their first run out and while he (Keegan) will be looking at people I don't think it will alter whatever decision he has come to."

Goater was given permission by Keegan to stay in Manchester and he said he was thankful to have been given the opportunity to represent his country at such a high profile event.

"He has been great in letting me get involved as the attach? and be part of these Commonwealth Games," he added.

"The boss is as patriotic as anyone and I think that is why he understood. I am very grateful that he has let me do this."

Goater said he still expected to don his boots over the next couple of weeks as he stepped up his fitness ready for the big kick-off.

"There's a reserve fixture around July 26th and I think that will be the first time I get a touch of the ball in a game," he said.

In terms of fitness Goater says he won't really know until he kicks a ball in anger how close he is to peak perfection.

"I feel about 50 percent when I am running up and down training, which is along way away from being 100 percent," he said. "But at the same time I don't think anyone is 100 percent fit in the opening two or three games.

"Some players are closer to 100 percent than others but I think people really hit their peak fitness after around a dozen games."

City's first game back in the Premiership is against Leeds on August 17 at Elland Road.