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Goater delighted after Wells’ positive start

Promising start: Nahki Wells has enjoyed an encouraging first couple of weeks as a Bristol City player (Photograph courtesy of Bristol City)

Shaun Goater says he is delighted to see fellow Bermudian Nahki Wells enjoying early success at his former club Bristol City.

Wells joined City from Burnley for £4 million on a 3½-year deal during the January transfer window and opened his account on his full debut in a 3-2 home win over Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday.

“That’s really great news. He has been able to score on his first start, which is good,” said Goater, who scored 45 goals in 81 appearances during a two-year stint at City between 1996 and 1998.

“Also scoring at home, that will really settle him and he will also look forward to all of the home games and performing well in front of the home crowd because they will really get behind him.

“He will really enjoy that as well and look to deliver for the Bristol City fans.”

Goater is also “glad” that Wells has opted to join promotion hopefuls City.

“I think it’s a brilliant signing for Bristol City,” Goater added. “Nahki is so experienced now in the Championship and when you’ve got experience you start to know the team, the styles how they play and the strengths and weaknesses of the teams.

“More importantly he knows the defenders; their weaknesses and how to exploit, and Bristol City is basically a team that play to Nahki’s strengths.

“He’s a player that will benefit so much from Bristol City’s style of play and feel really at home, so he will certainly enjoy it.”

Before joining City, Wells consulted Goater over a potential move to the club.

“Nahki did call me up and ask me about Bristol considering his options and everything,” Goater said.

“We had a bit of a chat and I said to him that Bristol is a beautiful part of the country where he will enjoy the weather, the people down there and the football.

“So I am glad that he’s made the decision because I think he will really settle there and they’ve got some great plans as well in terms of the future of the club.

“When I was there last season, when they were playing Manchester City, I was shown the sort of plans that they have for the future of the club and it’s an amazing plan.

“I think he’s gone to Bristol City at the right time with the owners having put a lot of investment, not only in the club, but the sports in general in Bristol.

“There are a number of teams that they support and are the main supporters of the team, so it’s brilliant for him to go to Bristol.”

Wells is off to a flying start to the new year having netted five goals, including a hat trick against Cardiff, in three appearances while on loan at QPR last month which earned him Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month accolades.

City are seventh in the Championship standings, one spot shy of the playoffs and three points adrift of second and third placed Leeds United and Fulham.

Lee Johnson’s team will be keen to continue their winning ways away to fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds at Elland Road today.