in more goals for City in the Premiership this season and prove his critics wrong once again.

The Bermudian striker has netted 50 goals in the last two seasons to lead the club to two consecutive promotions. But even after his 29 goals last term in his first season in the First Division, Goater still had his doubters.

"It seems that Shaun has had something to prove in every season he has been at Maine Road -- and I suppose next season will be no different,'' Royle told the Manchester Evening News this weekend.

Royle has said that he will continue to show faith in the striker who was a bargain 400,000 buy for City in March, 1998, even though Nigerian Daniel Amokachi has been linked with a move to the club from Turkish club Besiktas.

Amokachi, who once played under Royle at Everton, is due to join the squad today for pre-season training. He arrived in Manchester on the weekend.

Goater has yet to play in the Premiership, but has vowed he is up to the challenge as he fulfills a longtime dream.

"First of all his critics questioned whether he would score goals on a regular basis,'' said his manager.

"He was banging them in left, right and centre when we were in the Second Division and that was when he won over our supporters, so the so-called experts had to change their tune.

"Then they were saying that, while he was scoring regularly in the Second Division, his goals would dry up if we moved up a division. We did exactly that and Shaun proved them wrong again.

"He finished up with over 20 last season and you don't need me to tell you how important that was to our success.'' Goater was subsequently voted the club's Player of the Year by the City fans, and now he is preparing himself for the biggest challenge of all in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

"Now, no doubt the whisperers will be singing the same tune again,'' said Royle.

"Shaun, they will be saying, has proved he can score consistently in the Second Division and First Division, but he won't have the same success against Premiership defenders next season.

"And Shaun's response will be the same as it was last season and the season before that. He will continue doing what he is best at -- which is scoring goals.

"I know what he is capable of. Every new question which has been asked of him during his time at Maine Road he has answered positively. He doesn't need to prove anything to me, to our supporters or to himself.'' Royle said he was pleased with the progress of his players in the early stages of pre-season training.

"The players have returned in good physical condition which is as we would have expected,'' said the manager, who has made just one major signing during the off-season, bringing in midfielder Alfie Inge Haaland from Leeds.

"We do need to improve in one or two areas but that is not to say we are going to rush out and buy for the sake of buying. Some of our supporters are unhappy that we are not out buying big names. But some of these may not necessarily add to our squad.

"Alfie is a bright character who will fit in here, no problem. He can play three positions, full-back, midfield or centre-half. If I had only one player to buy this summer, it would have been Alfie because he can cover so many positions.'' With the size of the club and the support they generate, Royle has set ambitious goals for the team this season.

"The place is still rocking after the Blackburn game and the players are well aware that they have reached the goal of the Premiership,'' Royle stated.

"However, we are not just going up there to make up the numbers. I know what to expect as I have spent five years there with Everton and Oldham, as have some of the players.

"It is a physical division and it will be hard but we will be well prepared.

The potential here is definitely as a top six club and hopefully we can fulfill that.'' Young Bermudian Tokia Russell scored twice in a 6-1 win for Preston North End's youth team over Bolton Wanderers in a friendly game on Saturday morning.

Russell, who is on trial at Preston along with striker Stephen Astwood, was also in the squad for the senior team in their afternoon 1-1 draw with Chorley. He appeared as a sub in the last five or six minutes, reportedly sending in a couple of good crosses, one following a fine run down the flank.

Vote of confidence: Manchester City boss Joe Royle (right) remains convinced that Bermudian striker Shaun Goater can be as prolific in the Premier League as he was in the lower divisions.