Shaun Goater?s former team-mates jet in to the Island tonight for a week of pre-season training.

Southend, who with the Bermudian striker?s help last season achieved a second straight promotion to earn a spot in the League Championship, will train twice a day during their stay here and will take on the national side on Friday night.

The squad of 20, including a number of youth players, will also take on the Under-20 national team in a behind-closed-doors match tomorrow.

It has also now been confirmed that Goater, who enjoyed a Government-organised welcome home reception last week, will play around 20 minutes in each half for the two sides in Friday?s encounter at the National Sports Centre.

?It will be great to see Shaun again because he?s a fantastic lad,? coach Steve Tilson told the club?s official website yesterday.

?He was brilliant for us and it will be nice to work with him one last time.

?It isn?t going to be an easy ride for the players, we will be training in the morning and afternoon every day and that will help us when we report back in England.?

The Shrimpers will be without Efe Sodje, Spencer Prior and Mark Gower for the trip but do include some new signings in their travelling squad as well as Goater?s former strike partner ? and the player who described the former Man City star as ?like a Dad? ? wonderkid Freddy Eastwood.

Lightbourne?s squad for the encounter, possibly the last before September?s Digicel Cup campaign, sees Keith Jennings and Stephen Astwood return to national team action.

Lightbourne himself will be absent for the game, as he is heading to Germany to watch some World Cup quarter-finals, but assistant Paul Scope ? who would have just flown back from the tournament ? will take charge.

?It will be a wonderful evening to come out and say thanks to Shaun for his career not only on the field but also as a model image for all of Bermuda,? said BFA general secretary David Sabir.

? It will also be a wonderful time to congratulate Southend United for their promotion last season and wish them all the best for the upcoming season.?

Friday?s match kicks off at 7.30 p.m. Admission is $15 for the Grandstand and $10 general seating.