DARREN Huckerby is set to slip Manchester City's promotion drive into top gear, writes Neil Bonnar.

The £3.8m recruit from Leeds last season is expected to get his chance up front in City's next Division One outing against West Brom in seven days time.

And he will enter the fray with a confidence-booster from manager Kevin Keegan.

"Darren is a better player than when I had him at Newcastle," said Keegan who bought and sold the 25-year-old while he was boss at St James' Park.

"He is more confident and his touch is better."

Huckerby transformed City when he came on for the last 15 minutes against Crewe last Saturday, sparking a surge in form which saw the Blues go from 2-2 to winning 5-2.

He is yet to start a game as he continues to build his fitness following an operation to his knee at the end of last season. He has had no chance of breaking up the devastating partnership of Shaun Goater and Paolo Wanchope which has reaped nine goals in four league games but Wanchope misses the West Brom game through suspension.

Keegan added: "Darren missed a lot of pre-season. Shaun, Paulo and Paul Dickov, who has not played a minute under me yet, have trained the whole time but Darren has missed a bit. But he is ready now and in this last week he has just caught up."