Bermuda coach Kyle Lightbourne is backing former international strike partner Shaun Goater to live up to expectations during a coaching stint at his former club, Macclesfield Town.

Goater has been added to Sol Campbell’s coaching team at the struggling Sky Bet League Two side where Lightbourne spent two seasons during his professional career.

Lightbourne is confident that Goater, 48, will make a good fist of the part-time role he has with Macclesfield’s academy teams.

“He will do well there and I personally wished him well,” Lightbourne said. “I’m sure it’s exciting for him and I’m happy that he is getting an opportunity to coach at the professional level.

“He’s done all the qualification and knows the game; it’s just a great opportunity for him. Hopefully, he can build on it and go on from there.

“I know it’s on a part-time basis, but in football things change so fast. You just have to grow your reputation as a coach, and this is something that he loves to do.”

Goater is the latest big name to join Campbell’s back room staff since the former Arsenal and England defender arrived at Moss Rose Stadium last September.

Andrew Cole, the former Manchester United and England striker, was appointed as the forwards coach last month.

“Definitely, to have Campbell, Andy Cole and now Shaun, there that’s a lot of experience,” Lightbourne added. “It’s just up to them to get it right.”

Lightbourne played for Macclesfield from 2001 to 2003, scoring 15 goals in 73 appearances.

“I had a good time there,” he recalled. “It was always a club that was fighting to stay in the League and to keep them in the League while I was there was possibly the main job.

“There was never any talk of the club getting promoted. It was always about staying in that division and we managed to do that during the two seasons I was there.”

Macclesfield are second from bottom, two points from safety with 27 points from 31 matches.