DWIGHT Yorke will link up with Trinidad & Tobago next month but has agreed to sit out one of his country's friendly games.
Yorke had a discussion with Roy Keane this week after the manager questioned the wisdom of his 34-year-old striker going away for the best part of two weeks.
It ended with an agreement that Yorke would travel for the October 7 game against Nicaragua but come back to England and not be involved in the friendly with Panama four days later.
Keane said today: "I spoke to Dwight on Tuesday. Clearly, he won't be involved in the next World Cup and he has come here and made a commitment for the next two years.
"Trinidad & Tobago see Dwight as the main man – an ambassador for his country – and I would never begrudge anyone playing for their country.
"After that conversation, we have agreed he will go over for the first game next weekend and come back here on the Sunday or the Monday.
"It is a compromise that is fair to his country, to Dwight and to Sunderland.
"Dwight is not getting any younger and these internationals are just friendlies.
"We have tried to be fair to everyone."
Yorke has previously admitted that he needs to improve his fitness after arriving from Australian A-League champions Sydney and playing two international friendlies ahead of three games in eight days for Sunderland would have been a tough task for any player, let alone the veteran