It's Yorke to Newcastle ... Jets, that is
By: Graeme Anderson (Sunderland Echo)
Dwight Yorke is set to swap Sunderland for Newcastle!
The Black Cats star is out of contract after completing a successful three-year deal at the Stadium of Light.
And the 37-year-old, who wants to continue his playing career as long as possible, has been informed that Newcastle are preparing to move for him.
But the veteran Trinidad & Tobago midfielder will not be moving to Tyneside – he is wanted by Australian A-League side Newcastle Jets.
Yorke, who turns 38 in November, spent a year Down Under and helped Sydney FC win the inaugural A-League title before becoming one of Roy Keane's first signings at Sunderland in 2006.
Now he has emerged as a potential target for Newcastle Jets who are looking to make an impact in the A-League next season. Newcastle are currently trying to keep Italian midfielder Fabio Vignaroli – who is already with the Jets on a short-term deal which expires later this month.
But so far the former Lazio man has rejected their overtures and that has seen the Jets linked with a fresh move for Yorke, who was originally a target for the New South Wales club back in November.
At that stage the deal fell through because the Jets' involvement in the Asian Champions League, which runs from March until November, clashed with several of T&T's vital World Cup 2010 qualifiers.
But the Jets want Yorke as their marquee player if, as seems likely, no deal can be struck with Vignaroli.
The Jets' Rome-based technical director Branko Culina said: "I was aware there were some discussions previously with Dwight and he was a huge influence at Sydney FC.
"Players like that are terrific for the game and I am sure they have a lot to offer but you also have to look at your own situation and see whether it is feasible.
"If for some reason we were unable to come to terms with Fabio, we would have to move pretty quickly."
Yorke made 62 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland, scoring six goals.
And though his first-team involvement was peripheral last season, he remains incredibly fit and injury-free for his age.
He has also continued at international level and is set to play for T&T tonight in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Mexico City along with Sunderland duo of Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards.
More than 100,000 fans are expected at the Azteca Stadium to see the sides who occupy the bottom two slots in the Concacaf qualifying pool go head to head.
Yorke said: "It's going to be a crucial game for both teams, but the pressure is on Mexico to get a result at home.
"They are coming off a loss and so are we, so both teams will be going all out to get something.
"It's always difficult to play at the Azteca Stadium, but we are still very excited about the game."
The top three sides in the group qualify automatically for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa, while the fourth-placed side faces a play-off with a side from the Oceania qualifying pool to get to the finals.
