Don Goodman will be starring for Wolves’ Masters team – only after playing two tennis finals first!

The former striker is in the doubles with his son and the mixed doubles event with his wife, at Wolverhampton Tennis Club in Newbridge tomorrow.

The powerful former forward – now a fitness trainer – is confident he will be in top shape for a series of hotly-contested West Midlands derbies on the night.

He said: “I have to play in two tennis finals tomorrow afternoon but I keep myself pretty fit anyway so hopefully I’ll be OK,”

The Masters is one of the few opportunities we get to come together as old mates and recreate what we miss the most – the football and the banter.

“We all have a great laugh but there is a serious side to it – you show me an ex-pro who isn’t competitive and I’ll show you someone who wasn’t very successful.”

Wolves have won the Midlands Masters three times and Goodman accepts they are the side to beat because of their reputation.

“We’re always there to be shot at year in, year out because we’ve won three of them.

“We are a year older. There are always younger and equally competitive players out there coming in.”

Wolves squad: Mike Stowell, David Kelly, Scott Taylor, Mick Gooding, Andy Thompson, Don Goodman, Phil Robinson, Mark Burke, Darren Roberts.

Walsall make their Midlands Masters debut with former Saddlers hero Chris Marsh promising to showcase his famous ‘step-over’ to the nation.

The Saddlers have been invited for the first time to join the Sky Sports “old boys” contest, which has been expanded from four teams to six to include Coventry.

Marsh, who perfected his ‘step-over’ trick during more than 400 appearances for the Saddlers, has flown back from the United States for the event.

He cannot wait to pit his wits against some old friends.

He said: “The masters is a great event and it’s about time Walsall had a team in it,.

“For me it is a chance to play again with some old friends and playing against some old friends as well.

“It’s about the football but for me it’s also about the camaraderie and being with the lads again.

“We’ve some great lads in the Walsall team and we’re hoping to compete well.

“I don’t know if the step-over will work indoors but I’ll definitely give it a go for the cameras.”

Walsall squad: Ron Green, Kevin Wilson, Tony Barras, Adrian Viveash, Dean Smith, Andy Reece, Chris Marsh, Paul Jones, Mark Rees.

Albion are hoping the injection of “youth” will help their old boys turn the tables on Black Country rivals Wolves, helping them to improve on last year’s nightmare bottom-place finish.

Thirtysomethings Daryl Burgess, Carl Heggs and Roy Hunter have been added to the Baggies squad.

They must do without injured legend Bob Taylor and another injury victim, Paul Raven. Nonetheless, Burgess is looking forward to the event.

He said: “I have been drafted in quite late but I am really looking forward to it.

“We have quite a few relatively young players in our team and hopefully that will make a difference.”

Dutch midfielder Richard Sneekes is a regular star of masters events and he is warning Wolves will be tough to dethrone.

He said: “They have been the best team for the last three years but hopefully we will be better this year.

“It starts off as a social thing but before long it starts to get competitive. I am sure this year will be no different.”

Albion squad: Tony Lange, Kevin Donovan, Wayne Fereday, Carl Heggs, Richard Sneekes, Sean Flynn, Daryl Burgess, Ian Hamilton, Roy Hunter.

Villa old boy Ian Taylor made his Masters debut last year and has only one thing on his mind – revenge against arch rivals Birmingham.

The ex-Holte End favourite will be backed by a large Brummie following at the NIA as he bids to get his own back on Blues.

“We have a score to settle with Blues because they beat us last year and they ended up knocking us out. So it should be nice and juicy!”

“There’s a load of my family and mates going so they will be cheering me on.”

Having only been retired a year, 40-year-old Taylor is one of the younger and fitter players. He admits the seriousness of the competition took him by surprise.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. It was competitive last year and one or two of us should have taken it a bit more seriously.

“Last year we beat Wolves who went through, so I was disappointed we didn’t go any further.”

Villa have one of Taylor’s more recent ex-team-mates alongside him in Hassan Kachloul.

Squad: Dale Belford, Mark Kinsella, Ian Taylor, Shaun Teale, Hassan Kachloul, David Norton, Garry Parker, Martin Carruthers.