Yorke gains friendly advice

Dwight Yorke is facing a club-versus-country dilemma as the Sunderland manager Roy Keane attempts to protect the striker.

The 34-year-old has been called up for Trinidad & Tobago's friendlies against Nicaragua and Panama next month.

However, Keane, who handed his former Manchester United team-mate his first start for the club at Ipswich on Saturday, admits that he will talk to Yorke about the strains that could inflict on him.

"I have had a chat with Dwight and I am due to speak with him again," Keane said. "I will never begrudge a player the chance to play for his country, but it is getting the balance right. He has come to a new club here, he is looking to settle in and he is still looking for that bit of match sharpness.

"Dwight has said it is a transitional period over there and they are looking to use his experience. I have not got a problem with that, but I think he has got to be fair to everyone and fair to himself. If he is going over there, playing two friendly matches and looking to come back and play for us, I think it is unrealistic.

"A lot of managers have to deal with this scenario," Keane said. "Dwight is not going to be around in the next World Cup, so he has got to be fair to himself.

"I will be chatting to him and we will see what is going to happen."