Shaun Goater will receive a “Royle” welcome in his debut for Reading on Saturday.

As fate would have it, the Bermudian who signed for the English First Division club last week will make his maiden appearance for Reading against the manager who acquired him for his former club, Manchester City.

Ipswich and Joe Royle await Goater on their home ground in what promises to be an exciting reunion between Goater and Royle who bought the Bermudian for City in 1998 - all this just a week after Goater bade farewell to the Premiership and the Blues.

“He (Royle) brought me to Man City. So if there's one side that will certainly know my strengths and weaknesses it's his. It will be interesting.

“I don't think I could have a more challenging first game. He knows my game inside out so he will be telling them everything about me to obviously stop me from performing well,” said Goater, speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday.

The striker is looking forward to seeing Royle and enjoying the customary pre-game pleasantries when his new side travel to Ipswich for the season opener. Thereafter, it's all business as it has been since Goater put pen to paper in three-year deal with the Berkshire team.

Regarding his choice of Reading, the 33-year-old revealed he was enticed by manager, Alan Pardew's pledge to make him an even better player. Goater was also impressed by the club set-up and the strong fan base.

“I had talks with other clubs but the main thing was that the Reading manager - the gaffer Alan Pardew - said he can improve me as a player. Certainly, it's led me to believe it wasn't just about me coming to the club and them saying ‘Well we've got Shaun Goater' and all that sort. It was about them saying ‘We can improve you as a player as well'.

“That was the one main thing that stuck out among other little bits about the club.”

Prior to selecting his new football home, Goater spent three days “back and forth on the motorways” in discussion with various clubs including Wigan and Nottingham Forest.

“There were other clubs as well that were interested but they didn't come to the forefront and perhaps (they) thought I was going to hold off and see if Man City was going to let me go on a free (transfer).

“I went down to Reading and saw the club, the stadium and the set-up. The crowds are averaging 15,000 to 18,000. I was interested in the crowd capacity which is important as well.

“It's an up and coming club and a lot of things have been said about it. It was looking at all these sort of things and saying ‘Yes it's Reading. Reading is the club for me,” explained Goater.

“I now look forward to starting my new career at Reading.”

Also of paramount consideration was how any move would affect his wife and young twin daughters. Reading, he noted, was a great fit.

“My family is happy because it's a decision that could improve my career. At the same time it's a good area with regards to schooling for the kids. Nationally, Reading has some of the better schools in England so it's really good for the girls.

“These things were all part and parcel of my decision. It wasn't solely football-based.”

Though coming with a big reputation, Goater feels no pressure and is prepared to let his skills do the talking.

“I'll just go there and be myself. I know there's expectations but I don't want to be put in the team because of what I've done in the past. I've got to start all over and it's a new challenge to set new standards and start to attain them.

“I always set targets which I don't reveal but I want to go there and play well and, with me performing, goals will come. I want to perform well and the rest will take care of itself.”

Goater is on the fast track as far as learning about his new club is concerned, acknowledging he had limited information on Reading before being recruited.

“I knew they missed out on the play-offs because I saw a little of the play-offs. I knew one or two players but because Reading is quite far from Manchester I tended not to see much of them apart from if they were playing a live game on Sky Sports or something.

“It was very seldom you would hear about Reading because they were based in London.”

However, given the regularity with which players switch clubs and divisions, he is familiar with several of his new team-mates, some of whom he has opposed in the past. For this reason, too, he does not see any distinct advantage in his coming from the top flight of English football.

Despite his readiness for his new assignment, Goater said he left City with lots of memories and friends - both on and off the pitch. He got the opportunity to say a formal goodbye to his former team-mates yesterday as he tied up ends with the Manchester outfit.

“I popped in at the training ground to say a proper goodbye to my team-mates. In football when you move it's such a rush. You're here today and tomorrow you're in Reading and you don't get a proper time to say ‘See you all later'.

“Today, with me being off, I was able to come back and sort out one or two things and at the same time say a proper goodbye to my team-mates and the staff.”