Shaun Goater was yesterday hailed as one of the most lethal strikers in England.

The Manchester City frontman, who scored his 31st goal of the season during Saturday's 3-1 win over Gillingham, was named in the Professional Footballers Association's (PFA) Division One team of the year.

It was the second such honour for the Bermudian international whose strikes have helped send City back to the Premiership after one season in the second tier.

City, who play their last game of the season at home to Portsmouth on Sunday, have romped away with the divisional title and Goater's goal return is his best since moving to England from these shores.

Such is City's dominance that Goater is one of three Blues' stars in the line-up, midfield wizards Eyal Berkovic and Ali Bernabia being the other two.

"We have only three in the side," quipped Goater when told of his selection. "I think we should have had another eight!" From a personal perspective, the big man said that to be chosen by his fellow professionals was indeed an honour.

"It is the greatest compliment which you can be paid," he said. "The people you play against week in, week out are actually voting for that particular position so that is the biggest compliment players can get."

Saturday's win meant City had set a record for the number of away points in a season.

"The record we achieved on Saturday. . . for a City side is really amazing," he said. "Normally you come to the end of a season and are fortunate if you achieve one record, here we have created two now with the number of goals we have scored in one season."

Goater said the accomplishments this year were down to a host of people, not just those out on the pitch.

"What we have achieved is a great compliment to the gaffer (manager, Kevin Keegan) and all the staff," he said. "I have been on one team of the year before when in Division Two with Bristol City. I am very pleased to have been chosen again.

"When your fellow professionals vote for you it makes me very proud."

Division One team of the year: Russell Hoult (West Brom); Graham Alexander (Preston); Neil Clement (West Brom); Darren Moore (West Brom); Joleon Lescott (Wolves); Eyal Berkovic (Man. City); Mark Kennedy (Wolves); Ali Bernabia (Man. City); Robert Prosinecki (Portsmouth); Shaun Goater (Man. City); Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace).

Meanwhile, Goater has asked City fans to get behind new signing Peter Schmeichel and forget the goalkeeper's former allegiance to the Maine Road outfit's fiercest rivals, Manchester United.

The Great Dane is set to sign from Aston Villa and Goater believes it is a major coup.

"Schmeichel has great stature in the game and has been there, seen it and done it and his arrival shows the club is not willing to stand still," he said. "His coming to City can only be good for our existing goalkeepers, in terms of learning and for the rest of the team as well.

"As players we always have to be up for the challenge of new and better players coming in. That is the only way to improve your own standards."

Goater said he had no doubt the fans would take to the player.

"I am sure that, knowing our fans, a few will be questioning the arrival of someone who won all those things with United," he said. "But I am absolutely sure that once they see him play and see what he is about that will be erased out of their minds.

"You want your supporters right behind your players and I am sure ours will be behind Peter. The gaffer only buys quality players and he has brought in another one. Peter will be a great addition to the team. He is a big game player with great experience and that is what we want."