Bermudian international Shawn Goater shoved manager Joe Royle's words back down his throat with a 15-minute hat-trick as Manchester City went on the rampage at Burnley in last night's English Second Division clash.

Royle had cajoled the out-of-form striker by saying prior to the meeting at Turf Moor, which City won 6-0: "The goals are looking like five-a-side nets to Shawn at the moment.'' And in a comment that appeared like a veiled threat to Goater's place in the side, which had gone 11 games unbeaten before last night, he added: "We are hard to beat and have the best defensive record in the division, but we need to be more prolific up front.'' But Goater, who had scored just three times in his last 23 outings for the club, hit back in style, striking in the 50th, 59th and 65th minutes after Kevin Horlock and Andy Morrison had opened up a 2-0 lead for the visitors by half-time.

His first came when goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's long kick downfield was cleverly touched into his path by Gareth Taylor and he ran on to the ball to drill home from 20 yards.

Nine minutes later he sidefooted home another cross delivered by Taylor and completed his hat-trick by squeezing the ball in at the second attempt when he got on the end of the same player's low centre.

Danny Allsopp completed the rout with an 82nd minute effort as City moved up to sixth in the table -- a position that, if maintained, would give them a play-off place.

As well as relieving City's long-suffering fans, Goater's return to form will been keenly welcomed by Bermuda soccer technical director Clyde Best as he bids to build on wins over Antigua and Denmark under-23s in the past couple of months.

Bermuda Football Association yesterday announced that Goater and fellow Bermudian professionals Kyle Lightbourne and David Bascome were expected to be released by their respective clubs in England and the US for the national side's match against Major League Soccer giants DC United at the end of the month.

BFA general secretary David Sabir said yesterday that "all the indications suggest'' that the trio would return to the Island for the March 30 game, a warm-up for the Caribbean Cup which Bermuda is hosting in May.

Lightbourne plays for Stoke City in the same division in England as Goater, while midfielder Bascome plays indoors in the US with Harrisburg Heat.

The BFA's determination to secure the services of the trio for the game against the most successful side in MLS history -- they won the title in 1996 and 1997, finished runners-up last season and contain several players with World Cup experience -- is likely to be seen as a signal that they will take part in the Caribbean Cup.

There had been some doubt about their participation when the competition was originally scheduled for April, but Best recently said he was optimistic about having them in the team after the match dates were put back to May.

Shawn Goater: hammered three goals early in the second half as Manchester City blasted Burnley 6-0 last night.