Keane accepts Yorke call-up

Black Cats chief has no problems with call-up

By Ashley Marshall   Last updated: 27th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Keane accepts Yorke call-up

Yorke: International call-up

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Sunderland boss Roy Keane will send Dwight Yorke away on international duty in October with his blessing, but adamant he is not fully fit.

Keane says there is "no chance" Yorke is fit enough to play three games in a week, but believes his call-up makes more sense than his selection to the Trinidad & Tobago team earlier this month.

The Irishman found himself embroiled in a row with Fifa vice-president and special advisor to the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation Jack Warner when he summoned the 36-year-old back from the Caribbean between World Cup qualifiers.

Yorke was this week called up once again for qualifiers against Guatemala and the United States, as well as a friendly clash with the Dominican Republic, raising fears of another stand-off.

Yorke has not played club football this season after getting hurt in a 1-1 pre-season draw with Vitoria de Setubal in Portugal in July, and Keane says it is not realistic to expect the former Manchester United and Blackburn hit-man to play in the trio of fixtures.

However, while Keane is standing by his decision to recall Yorke - who is continuing his rehab after fracturing a cheekbone - he is happy for him to join up in October.

Blessings

He said: "He goes with my best wishes. He has had two or three weeks' training.

"My big issue the last month was that he wasn't 100 per cent fit. I still don't think he is capable of going over there and playing three games in eight or nine days."

Keane says he is supportive of the veteran striker, who has scored 26 goals for his country after twice retiring from international duty, but remains certain he was never fit enough to warrant a call-up earlier this month.

"Nobody will ever change my mind on that, nobody," Keane said.

"He will go, but if somebody asked me if he can play the three games for them next month, I would say, 'no chance'. He is not fit enough, his body is not up to it.

"But he can go and have an influence in maybe one, possibly two of the games.

"That's up to their manager to decide."