From leaving Manchester United 10 years ago for Rotherham in the lower reaches of the English League, to switching from promotion-bound Bristol City to relegation-threatened Manchester City two years ago, the Bermudian never lost sight of his goal of playing in the Premiership.

Even at the risk of alienating himself from his fellow countrymen, Goater chose not to return for World Cup matches which clashed with important Manchester City matches this season.

And it all worked out as City clinched a second straight promotion on Sunday and come August the 30-year-old striker will make his debut in the division...even if it is some five years later than he had originally hoped.

"You just have to have believe in yourself and never give up,'' he said, offering advice at the same time to any youngster aspiring to follow in his footsteps and those of another Bermudian, Kyle Lightbourne. "It has taken years for me to get where I am, but better late than never. I'm just glad to be where I am, really.'' Goater is looking to play five years in the Premiership and is hoping to seal a contract extension with City before he returns home for an off-season break.

He still has two years of a four-year contract remaining.

"If I see out 35 then I will have done well,'' he added. "I just want to end my career on a high.'' Critics doubted he would score goals in the First Division, but he responded with his most productive season ever, just failing to become the first City player in almost 30 years to score 30 goals in a season -- former England star Francis Lee was the last.

Now the manager who took him from amateur football in Bermuda, Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, believes he can do the business in the top flight, too.

"He's a natural goalscorer,'' says Ferguson. "He scored 20-odd the season before and there's no reason why he can't continue.'' Goater has been in England since 1988 and was issued permanent residency years ago which doesn't require him to apply for a permit renewal every year.

Any player arriving in England from Bermuda now would not only have to be an international but would be faced with competition from players from around the world.

"I've said it time and time again that I do feel for players at home because you need to play a certain amount of international games,'' said Goater.

"But when we're not playing in the World Cup we play perhaps one international game a year.''