from injury.

The Bermuda international and Manchester City striker was prevented from lining up among an experienced Blues side against Middlesbrough during a reserves clash last night in Riverside.

Goater will have to wait at least another week before he is allowed back to the full contact environment.

"Shaun is training with the first team, but he will have to wait for a few more days for a competitive game,'' said team manager Joe Royle.

"Shaun is the only member of the squad who is not a hundred percent fit at the moment,'' said Royle. "But I hope he will be in the reserves next week.

"He is coming on well but is not playing tonight (last night) because we wanted to get a good week's training into him. It is a matter of getting some training in the bank with him before we let him loose.'' Goater has not played a competitive game for City this season since undergoing an operation on his knee six weeks ago.

Meanwhile, City continue their quest of upgrading the squad, with the Maine Road club said to be mulling over the possibility of making a move for Nigerian defender Taribo West. West is available on a free transfer after having his contract rescinded by Serie A giants AC Milan.

The Rossoneri released him because they were desperate to reduce the number of non-EU players on their books, as they can only field three at any one time, and West refused to apply for citizenship.

It would be a major coup for the north west club to capture West, a former team-mate of recently acquired forward George Weah at San Siro, with the Nigerian an established international defender who would bring added strength to the defence.

West, who only spent eight months with Milan after making a cross-city move from rivals Internazionale, has been the subject of interest from Liverpool, Middlesborough and Arsenal, and has previously expressed an interest in playing in England.

Whether the African would choose the blue side of Manchester is not yet clear, but his relationship with Liberian international Weah could be a bargaining chip for City boss Joe Royle to exploit.

The 26-year-old spent five seasons in France, with Auxerre, and it is almost certain that the opportunity to test his skills against the forwards of the Premiership would appeal to the stopper.