Australia offer to help Dwight get ready for Germany
By John Taylor (The Daily Telegraph)
AUSTRALIA has offered to help prepare Dwight Yorke for the World Cup finals in Germany next year provided the Socceroos don't draw Trinidad and Tobago in their group.
Socceroos assistant coach Graham Arnold is trying to organise a local-based squad of World Cup hopefuls to train and play friendly matches against state league clubs once the A-League is finished and would invite Yorke to join them.
"Dwight's been great for the A-League. He's given the competition a high profile," Arnold said yesterday.
"He showed just what a true professional he is when he skipped Trinidad's celebrations [after they beat Bahrain and qualified for their first World Cup] to come straight home and play for Sydney FC.
"If we can help him stay fit we will. It's one way of repaying him.
"But first we have to wait and see who we draw in our group."
Trinidad captain Yorke said yesterday he hadn't given much thought to how he would keep himself fit once his commitments ended with Sydney.
"I am not thinking that far ahead," he said. "I have a game against Melbourne on Saturday and then we're off to Japan where we first have to get past Deportivo Saprissa [in the FIFA World Club Championship]."
Arnold, along with coach Guus Hiddink, will be in Leipzig for the World Cup draw on December 9.
Arnold reiterated yesterday that A-League players were certainly not out of contention for the trip to Germany in June.
"Guus doesn't allow players to rest on their laurels," said Arnold. "All players have to perform," he said.
While he missed out on the squad for the qualifiers against Uruguay, Leicester's Patrick Kisnorbo will surely put pressure on some of the older players.
"He'll be monitored just like everyone else," said Arnold.