Times , one of Britain's most prestigious newspapers, ran a feature on the Rotherham United star in Wednesday's edition as a build-up to the club's Fourth Round FA Cup tie with runaway First Division leaders Newcastle United.

Goater spoke of his involvement in the World Cup and his early days at Manchester United in an article headlined: "Goater forsakes Bermuda for Rotherham paradise''. There was also a three-column colour photo of him heading a ball in training.

The article, written by Adrian Holloway, began: "Few footballers will ever be celebrated in both Rotherham and Bermuda, but Shawn Goater, the island's international centre forward, will become as popular in the Yorkshire town as his recent World Cup success has made him in his homeland if he scores the goals that knock Newcastle United out of the FA Cup at Millmoor on Saturday.'' The article mentioned how 22-year-old Goater enjoys celebrity status on the Atlantic island where his photograph is found on innumerable advertisements, and claims he has eclipsed Olympic triple jumper Brian Wellman as the country's leading sportsman.

Again, mention has been made of the fact that Goater was first spotted by Premier Division club Manchester United during a tour here. The then 17-year-old Goater, who was on a soccer scholarship at Wake Forest College in North Carolina youngster at the time, was playing for the Bermuda Under-23 team. He gave up those studies to sign for the Old Trafford club after a successful trial period and a long wait for a work permit.

"I'd always wanted to play in England,'' Goater said. "Clyde Best was the only Bermudian to do it at the top level before me so I was disappointed that I never got a taste of the first team at United.'' Of his new home in Rotherham, Goater says: "Rotherham reminds me of Bermuda.

It's small, so you bump into the same people two or three times a day and I get recognised like I do on the island.'' Goater has only just returned to the Rotherham side after two months with the Bermuda World Cup team when he admitted his fitness "dropped off''.

He initially had trouble readjusting to the pace of the English game but has now settled in and should be in Rotherham's starting line-up for tomorrow's big match against a Newcastle side managed by former Liverpool and England star Kevin Keegan. In Rotherham, the game has attracted as much interest as the League Cup tie against Everton. Rotherham lost after Goater scored the winning goal in the first leg.

Phil Henson, the manager who has taken Rotherham from the old Fourth Division to fifth place in the Second in two years, says Goater has the making of an outstanding forward.

"For a big man he's always had a good touch with both feet,'' Henson said.

"When he's on his game he's very exciting.'' SHAWN GOATER -- colour feature.