Yorke to play in England, Trinidad & Tobago international friendly after all

by Guardian Reporter

Retired Trinidad and Tobago international and former captain, Dwight Yorke of Sunderland FC has had a change of heart and will accept the invitation by T&T Football Federation special advisor, Fifa vice-president Austin Jack Warner to play against England in tomorrow’s friendly international which is dubbed a ‘score to settle’.

Earlier, Warner, president of Concacaf had initially hinted that both Yorke and Latapy, the country’s most accomplished footballers could feature in the match as the final bow in their international careers but both players had decided against making the brief return to the team.

Yesterday, however, G-sport got word that Yorke will join the Soca Warriors in camp today and will play tomorrow in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd of 22,500 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 5.30 pm.

Latapy, who is also eyeing another year in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk having already stated his willingness to continue playing despite nearing the age of 40, is still out.

Meanwhile, T&T striker Kenwyne Jones says he is fit and ready to give England a fright in tomorrow’s friendly international at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 5.30 pm.

The Sunderland forward chipped a bone in his right wrist during the final game of the Barclays Premier League season earlier this month but has now recovered and is included in Francisco Maturana’s final 18-man squad.

And Jones is gunning for revenge after two late goals denied T&T a point in the teams’ only previous meeting in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup.

“I think we are going to see a very good game and I know all of Trinidad wants us to beat England this time around because we were seven minutes away from getting a point when we met them in Nuremberg in 2006,” said Jones.

“I’m feeling good at the moment and we’ve come through a good week of preparation for the match. England are coming off a win against the States but I think on Sunday it’s going to be a different ball game.

“Both teams I think will give a good showing and it should be a treat for the fans.”

Along with Jones, fellow English-based players Stern John, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence and Clayton Ince have also been included in the trimmed-down 18-man squad.