Almost a month after scoring the key goal that propelled Manchester City back into the realm of the Premier League, star striker Shaun Goater has yet to come to grips with the fact that he'll soon be playing in the top flight.

Yet, after failing to latch on with English `super-club' Manchester United as an 18-year-old phenom and being forced to forage among the lower division for several seasons, Goater has indeed arrived with another Manchester club...City.

"I keep saying to myself -- and every now and again I see some highlights on television -- `I'm a Premiership player','' said Goater shortly after his arrival in Bermuda on Thursday. "But it hasn't really hit me, I think it'll hit me when I see the fixtures as to the first game of the season, and I guess many Bermudians can't wait to see when that Man. City-Man. United derby is...that's when it'll officially hit me.'' Goater enters with impeccable credentials, having just completed his best ever season, leading the First Division in scoring with 29 goals despite opposition defensive schemes to thwart the wiry attacker.

Things only figure to get tougher in the top flight, where strikers are often served up as the main course for famished defenders, but the 30-year-old is taking matters in stride, as he is determined to show that he is up to the task.

Said Goater: "I look at it as a case of new goals, new challenges. I have a target that I've set within myself -- one which I'm not ready to reveal -- and I look forward to the challenge.

"I've been over in England 12 years and it took me a long time to get to the Premiership. I'm there now and I'm really going to enjoy it, and when you enjoy what you're doing you tend to throw your best.'' Keys to reaping such reward come from hard work, steadfast belief in self and a willingness to learn, according to Goater, who was keen to point these out to youngster Keishen Bean, North Village's leading scorer in the Under 13 team last season with 24 goals and a great fan of the senior striker.

"It's been two great years and the main thing is belief,'' he said. "Not to embarrass Keishen, but if he believes that he can go on to, not only be like Shaun Goater or Kyle (Lightbourne) or David (Bascome), but be better and he has that belief then he can do it.

"One good thing about me is that I'm always willing to learn, I think that's why I done so well moving from North Village.

"I was willing to learn then, even though a lot of people were saying that I was one of the better players. I was willing to learn and that's still me now at 30, which will put me in good stead.'' With three weeks to spend on the Island, Goater will once again link with childhood pal and fellow professional David Bascome for their annual soccer clinic.

And Goater added that he would be turning down most offers for dinner this time around after accepting a few too many a year ago, which resulted in him returning to the England overweight and being promptly fined by his manager.

"I've got to get myself enrolled in a gym real quick,'' said Goater, who, along with wife pregnant Anita -- they're expecting twins -- enjoyed a jaunt to Bahamas with his teammates. "I've put on a few pounds and you do lose a step or so.''