Training run a breeze for Dwight
By David Lewis
JET-setting Dwight Yorke touched down on terra firma with a gentle training run yesterday as he sharpened his talons for Central Coast Mariners in tomorrow's A-League grand final.
The Sydney FC sharp-shooter breezed through a two-hour session at the club's secret northern beaches base just hours after being whisked away from Mascot airport by a glamorous blonde PR girl Roxy Jacenko on his arrival from London.
Looking fresh and frisky despite the 22-hour journey, Yorke - who cat-napped through the day at his opulent Darling Harbour bachelor pad - declared himself ready to rumble after his confidence-boosting two-goal show for Trinidad and Tobago against Iceland in midweek.
"I was a little tired when I got in but I've had a sleep and I feel refreshed," said Yorke.
"It's important that I relax and recover as much as possible over the two days to make sure I am ready to do my best in the final.
"From the time I came off midway through the second half against Iceland (in London) I have been doing what is needed to make sure my body and my mind is spot on for Sunday.
"These are the games you want to play in as a player, the big games."
Asked if circumnavigating the globe in the week before a grand final would hurt his preparation, Yorke replied: "It's never really a good time - clearly I would have liked to be here a few days earlier (to give myself more time).
"But come Sunday I'll make sure I'll give myself every chance."
The famous ivory white smile was at its blinding best and the footwork looked sharp when Yorke took the field after arriving at the club's leafy hideaway in his ebony-coloured Range Rover 4WD.
Which was no mean feat since the 34-year-old marquee midfield player didn't arrive in Australia until 8.30am after his flight from Heathrow was delayed by 90 minutes.
As a result, Yorke cancelled a planned press conference before undergoing some physio at 3pm prior to training where he stretched, jogged and participated in several drills under the watchful eye of coach Pierre Littbarski without ever being required to break a sweat.
He added: "It has been a great season and I am determined to finish on a high. Right from the start it has been our goal to win the championship and now we are 90 minutes away from achieving that. We have worked very hard and it is up to us to put it together and win."
Though the grand final pales in comparison to the Champions League final Yorke he starred in for Manchester United against Bayern Munich in 1999, the significance of the event in an Australian context is not lost on him.
"If I can find the back of the net that would be a bonus but for me it's more important to win because this is such an important occasion," he said.
"The atmosphere will be excellent and we want to put a show on for the fans who have backed us so brilliantly this season."
The Daily Telegraph
