DWIGHT Yorke is determined that Trinidad and Tobago's fairytale ride to the World Cup won't be derailed by his United pals.

The 33-year-old striker has this week been training with the islands' World Cup squad in a seven-day acclimatisation camp in Chester.

But since March and the end of the season in Australia, where Yorke had been playing for Sydney FC, he has been back with United maintaining his fitness while focusing on next month's tournament in Germany - and getting a first-hand look at some of his English opponents into the bargain.

Yorke said: "I had the banter every day. Gary Neville was marking me in training and it was `this is what he's going to do to you' and `this is what I am going to do to him'. Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, too.

"We will probably be texting and phoning each other during the World Cup.

"Everyone is expecting us to get beaten, but the one thing I don't want is to be coming off humiliated five, six, seven-nil. I want us to walk out there and make sure we compete extremely well and if we do that, who knows?"

Yorke was persuaded to come out of international retirement by Trinidad and Tobago's Dutch coach, Leo Beenhakker. Along with the move to Sydney, that decision has turned Yorke's world around.

"Playing in England for 17 years, the way it ended was not the way I wanted," he added. "Things did not end particularly great at Birmingham and there was an opportunity for me to leave for something exciting in Australia.

Opportunity

"I took that opportunity and I am sure a lot of people would have thought that would be the last of me because football is not so well known in Australia.

"Then, at the same time, I came out of retirement for my country. I'd been absent for about four years and thought I'd give it one more chance to try to qualify for the World Cup. The last eight months have been unbelievable; going to Sydney, winning the grand final, and, of course, qualifying for the World Cup, being the captain and leader of the team.

"The appointment of Leo Beenhakker was a masterstroke. He came in and gave the guys belief and everyone has responded to that. We have made huge strides and that's down to the manager and the staff."

Trinidad and Tobago are the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, but Yorke is determined they will not be overawed.

"We are only a country of 1.3m, but I've played in the best team in Europe and there are times when, even though you're the best team, it doesn't guarantee the result.

"I've seen upsets so many times - football is full of surprises. What I can guarantee is we will give 100 per cent every time.

"People are expecting us to be whipping boys but we're going to make sure our opponents know they're in a fight.

Physical

"Sweden are very talented, very fit, very physical and it will be as tough a start as you can ask for.

"England are a team everyone expects to beat us very easily. They have some fantastic players throughout the whole team and even on the bench, and they're a team all our guys are familiar with. Our players in the lower divisions in England will need no incentive.

"They'll never have another opportunity to play against these big names and what a stage for them to try to compete with them on."

Yorke believes his experiences at United will help him.

"I've played at the very top level and won a lot of things. People respect that. I never saw myself as a leader but in this team everyone sees me as a leader and that's why the captaincy was handed to me, because of my experience.

"Of course, I know what it takes to win games and obviously I can score goals.

"I am not as fast as I used to be but I am physically in good shape and I can get around the pitch equally well. With my experience I don't need to run all over the place.

"I try to make it up with anticipation and try to think quicker than other people."

Do you think Yorke could spring a surprise on his United pals? Have your say.

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