Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher has earmarked Sunday week's Pre Season Cup round four clash with Perth Glory at WIN Stadium for Dwight Yorke's return to action with the defending Hyundai A-League Champions.
Yorke will pull on the Sydney FC shirt for the first time since the 2005/06 Grand Final when Sydney FC takes on Perth Glory in the final group game of the Pre Season Cup in Wollongong on Sunday August 6 at 5pm.
Following the A-League decider Yorke spent two months training with Manchester United to retain fitness for his debut World Cup appearance with Trinidad & Tobago in Germany and then had a welcome four week break.
The Joe Marston Medalist (Man of the Match in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final) was typically enthusiastic about returning to the field as part of his plan to be fully fit for the start of the A-League on August 27.
"I'm looking forward to the game," Yorke said. "I've been back in Sydney for a week and it has been great to be back with the lads and back in training. As a player you always want to get back onto the pitch to play games as soon as possible so I can't wait until next Sunday.
"Obviously I am not yet fully fit but I have already noticed a difference and after another week of training twice a day I will be ready to give a good account of myself against Perth."
The 34-year-old returned to training on Monday after taking a well earned break following the 2006 World Cup and Butcher is pleased with his progress and wants the Trinidad & Tobagon captain to take part in the clash with Perth.
"At this point we are working towards having Dwight in the side against Perth next Sunday in Wollongong," Butcher said before departing for Auckland ahead of tomorrow's clash with the New Zealand Knights. "Dwight is back in training and of course he is short of where he wants to be but he is working very hard to be ready for the start of the season.
"Dwight will continue to work hard to get his fitness levels back to the standards he sets for himself but we think he will be right to take part in the game against Perth.
"Ideally he will play a few games before the start of the A-League and this is the start of that process."
After playing against Perth, Yorke will fly to Japan to play a mid-week international for Trinidad & Tobago on August 10 before returning to Sydney for the rest of the pre season, ahead of the Hyundai A-League season opener against the Central Coast Mariners on August 27.