THE footballers of Barry Town United had a surprise on the eve of their new season, as a veteran of England's Premier League popped in to take training.

Weeks after playing in his fourth successive FIFA World Cup in Russia, the former Everton favourite Tim Cahill arrived in Barry to lead the first team's Tuesday evening session, accompanied by mentor Osian Roberts of the FAW Trust.

Australia's all-time leading goalscorer, Cahill, 39, had previously turned out for Millwall against Barry in a 2002 friendly and, after taking in stops in New York, Shanghai and Melbourne, the two-time FA Cup finalist made his way all the way back to Jenner Park to share his knowledge of the professional game.

Having recently called time on his international career, the Socceroos star is now looking to transition into coaching and the Barry session formed part of Cahill's studies under the FAW Trust's widely-acclaimed programme.

Cahill later told his Twitter followers that it was "a pleasure to coach the first team and also to meet the amazing staff and people that run this great club".