Shaun Goater is re-tracing his football roots by re-signing for his boyhood club North Village as a youth team coach this season.

Goater kicked off his distinguished career at North Village and will be responsible for grooming their stars of tomorrow as part of his "exciting" new role.

The former Man City ace said he was keen to give back to his old club and cited his involvement with the Bermuda Hogges as "whetting his appetite" for developing young talent.

"Coaching with the Hogges has really fired me up and whetted my appetite," he said. "It's humbled me and I want to prepare myself better for next season in terms of my coaching skills.

"This arrangement with North Village is ideal for me to not only improve my coaching but give something back to my old club ¿ that's where it all started for me."

The Hogges' president stressed he would not be part of the first team set up with his role purely coaching North Village's youth players, ranging from 18-years-old and under.

"North Village approached me to see if I was interested in helping them coach their youth teams," he added. "I won't be involved in the first team and I don't know what age group I'll be coaching yet, but I'm pretty excited about it.

"North Village has always had an exciting youth programme ¿ that's the club's culture and I'm delighted to be involved."

Commercial League defenders beware ... Goater will also be pulling on a North Village Rams' shirt this coming season.

With the 37-year-old invited to play in an England XI v World XI to celebrate the Professional Football Association's Centenary Year, he has vowed to get himself into shape.

Despite playing a raft of games for the Bermuda Hogges last season Goater is hoping to shed a few more pounds ahead of the big day at the City of Manchester Stadium on December 2.

Not only will he be re-united with the City faithful he will also be up against a host of footballing luminaries such as Roy Keane, Alan Shearer and Ruud Gullitt.

"I'll be registering to play for North Village Rams in the Commercial League as I'm looking to get myself fit for the big game," revealed Goater.

"The Rams are made up of old North Village players who played in Bermuda's top flight, so I've known most of the guys for a long time.

"They 're all about 35 and above but they can still play a bit ¿ hopefully I'll get a game. It should be a laugh to play with them and they all still love football.

"I might try and get a few sessions with the North Village first team as well as I want to try and get myself in good shape.

"About six weeks before the match I'll look to step up my fitness levels.

"Guys like Roy Keane will be playing and he's obviously still very fit and involved at the highest level with Sunderland. I don't want to go back to Man City and have their fans thinking someone's been 'feeding the Goat' too much."

With Hogges' co-owner Paul Scope involved with Commercial League outfit Robin Hood, Goater is looking forward to putting one over on his old friend.

"Paul (Scope) tried to entice me to sign for Robin Hood as I know those guys well.

"But I chose to sign with my old team-mates and I imagine I'll get a bit of stick when I play them. I'll probably need to wear my cricket pads!"