Keegan in keeper hunt

Cash-strapped Manchester City are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper after Belgian international Geert de Vlieger was ruled out for the entire season.

De Vlieger ruptured his Achilles tendon in last night’s 3-1 win over Wolves at Molineux, just 20 minutes into only his third game for the club since his summer arrival from Willem II.

It leaves Keegan lacking experienced cover for Euro 2004 star David James, with only Kevin Ellegaard and Kasper Schmeichel as back-up.

Ellegaard deputised for De Vlieger last night and the 21-year-old Dane, signed for £750,000 by Keegan from Farum Boldklub three years ago, impressed in seven first-team appearances last term.

However, Keegan clearly does not see the youngster as a short-term solution to his problem and with the first Premiership game against Fulham now just a fortnight away, the City boss will be pleading with chairman John Wardle for the funds to bring in a reinforcement.

“I will have to get another goalkeeper in,” he said.

“Geert has snapped his Achilles, so he is out for the season. I can’t take a risk with that position, so I will be talking to the chairman. If there is no money, there is no money but if we don’t get someone in it would be a major risk as we would then be hoping nothing would happen to David James.”

Keegan’s goalkeeping options have been restricted by Nicky Weaver’s on-going battle to overcome a knee complaint.

The former England Under-21 is currently in rehabilitation after another operation to try to solve the problem and is nowhere near making a comeback.

Faced with a similar problem following David Seaman’s injury last season, Keegan brought in Icelandic international Arni Arason but, after being released by the Eastlands outfit this summer, he has now signed a three-year deal with Norwegian outfit Valerenga.

To compound Keegan’s misery on a bad night in the Black Country, French defender David Sommeil will also miss the start of the season after being carried off with a calf injury.

“It could be four to five weeks,” the City boss added on the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk