Keegan hoping Fowler can strike

KEVIN KEEGAN is hoping the arrival of Arsenal at Maine Road tomorrow can spark Robbie Fowler into goalscoring mode.

The £6million transfer-window recruit from Leeds has not threatened to break his Manchester City duck in two appearances for his new club so far but will get another chance against the Gunners this weekend.

Throughout his career Fowler has shown a liking for playing against the London club.

The 27-year-old has scored 10 times against them so far, including a Premiership record hat-trick for Liverpool back in 1994, completed in just four minutes and 32 seconds.

And while that feat may be too much to ask for against a side who remain favourites to retain their Premiership title in May, Keegan believes the former Liverpool striker will rise to the occasion.

“Robbie is a big match player,” the City boss told www.mcfc.co.uk. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he breaks his duck for us against Arsenal on Saturday.

“He will want to get that first goal under his belt as soon as possible and while we don’t know when it will come, we do know he will be a major asset to this club for the next three-and-a-half years. It is a question of when, not if he will score.”

After an injury-plagued spell at Elland Road, Fowler has pushed himself through a series of extra training sessions over the past fortnight, taking advantage of the break in fixtures caused by City’s early exit from the FA Cup.

Keegan still does not think his new recruit has achieved full match-sharpness but has pledged to re-unite him in attack with record signing Nicolas Anelka, insisting “he won’t get fit on the bench”.

It means Shaun Goater will not be handed a recall despite his late equalising header in the derby-day draw at Old Trafford on February 9.

The Maine Road chief has already confirmed neither Danny Tiatto nor Peter Schmeichel will be fit to return from recent absences, so Carlo Nash is certain to start in goal.

Influential midfielder Eyal Berkovic is winning his battle for fitness but defender Sylvain Distin is suspended, which could see Irish international Richard Dunne return after he was axed for the Old Trafford clash.