Sportal

Dwight Yorke

A-League © A-League

Sydney FC captain Dwight Yorke is glad to be back in Australia, and even though he expects his team to be targeted in the Hyundai A-League's second season, the Trinidad and Tobago star believes that the reigning premiers can back up.

Yorke, who trained with Sydney on Monday, said that his focus at the moment is on getting himself adequately prepared for the club's opening clash with Central Coast Mariners on August 27.

"It's good to be back in Sydney," Yorke said. "I need to work hard in the next few weeks to be ready for the start of the A-League and at the moment that is my goal.

"I don't think I will (play against New Zealand this weekend in the Pre Season Cup) because I'll need a few weeks to get back to the level that I expect of myself and that I set last year."

The 34-year-old knows the enormous challenge that Sydney FC faces in view of defending the Hyundai A-League crown, but after a 'freshen up' following his World Cup campaign, Yorke said that it is all systems go.

"It was tremendous last year to win the Grand Final and we enjoyed the feeling of winning but from previous experience it is harder to defend a title than win one," he said.

"You would expect that as Champions we will be in the sights of every team we play.

"I needed a break after the World Cup and the manager (Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher) gave me some time to re-charge the batteries, which I was grateful for.

"I had a big year, including a lot of traveling, and I needed to relax for a while. I have done that and I am ready to go for Sydney FC."

Yorke admits that his career is starting to wind down now, and laughed at suggestions that he will play in the next World Cup with his beloved Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.

"No way, I'll be almost 40 then (2010 World Cup)," he said. "At this stage of my career I am only looking one year at a time and this year that is with Sydney FC.

"One year is a long time in football so you never know what I'll be doing (after the 2006/07 season) but for now I am looking forward to retaining the A-League title."