Manchester United legend Eric Cantona could be ready to make a playing comeback in England.

The Sun says Cantona could be lured out of retirement to play for tiny Bath City - if the Somerset part-timers reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in 15 years.

That is the dream of award-winning film director and Bath fan Ken Loach.

Loach was the brains behind the recent cinema smash hit Looking for Eric, in which Manchester United legend Cantona played himself.

Loach, 73, director of the 1960s TV series Z Cars and BAFTA-winning 1969 film Kes, cannot wait for City's second-round clash at Twerton Park today with Blue Square Premier rivals Forest Green Rovers.

And he said: "If I were writing Bath's Cup run for a film, the story would be us getting to the third round and then drawing Manchester United away.

"I would get Eric out of retirement and he would score the winning goal in front of the Stretford End, wearing our black and white shirt.

"When filming with Eric, I spoke to him a lot about Bath.

"I asked if he would come and do a Q and A evening to raise some money for the club and he obliged.

"He came down, posed with a Bath shirt on and spent a couple of hours chatting to supporters.

"I think a few people were surprised at how charming he was, far removed from the pictures they had seen of him snarling away and kicking that Crystal Palace supporter in the chest.

"I think Eric found the whole experience very liberating and took away some great memories.

"I spoke to him before the Grimsby game and he wished us luck, which was a nice boost for the players."