City team, despite being the team's top goal-scorer with seven.

The good news is Goater has fully recovered from the pulled stomach muscle which sidelined him in late September. But in his absence Steve Torpey and Colin Cramb have filled in admirably, leaving Goater without a guranteed place in the English side's starting lineup.

But the Bermudian striker isn't complaining about the situation as, over the last month, the team has risen from 15th to second in the Second Division standings with five wins and a draw from their last seven matches.

Goater is likely to be on the bench again tonight for the Bristol derby match away to Bristol Rovers, who have slipped to ninth in the standings, six points behind their cross-city rivals.

"I've been a sub for the last couple of games and I think he (the manager) is going to go with the same team,'' Goater said yesterday.

"I have fully recovered so I'm glad to get back out there and a part of things. In the last game I got on for a half hour.

"I'm not upset that I'm not playing. I probably would be if the team was losing, but the team is doing well and the front players are doing well.'' Goater is confident he can reclaim his spot in the next couple of games as City face some tough matches leading up to Christmas. They presently trail leaders Watford, whom they play on December 13, by eight points.

"I just have to bide my time and wait for the opportunity,'' Goater said.

"I'm sure it will come, if not tomorrow, then on Saturday.

"We believe we should be in the top half of the table, in the top six, and that's where we are. That's due credit to the players who are doing well.

"That's why I'm not particularly upset that I have not gone straight back in.''