By The Black Cats
April 9 2009

"We have players who have played in the Premier League but only for a year or two. We don't really have any established Premier League players and they are finding it a bit difficult.

"That's part of the reason I am here, to bring that calming influence.

"Hopefully, given that chance, I can influence the team from the pitch."

"When Ricky first took over, the team was on such a high that everything seemed cosy," said Yorke. "There was no need for me to push myself forward.

"I was quite happy to let that happen, as much as I still wanted to play.

"But now we are in a dilemma – there's a need for some experience to be brought into the team. It won't take me long to get into the swing of things because I am training every day."

Yorke is out of contract in the summer and does not want his career to end on a negative, especially after a career with no relegation blemishes.

He said: "It's up to us as a staff to explain the importance to the players because I have never been relegated in my life.

"I'm coming to the end of my career and I don't want that on my CV. I made it known (to the players) that you don't want to be going off in the summer knowing you are coming back to the Championship. I would like to think that has sunk in."

Dean Whitehead picked up an injury last weekend in the 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Gianfranco Zola's West Ham and if not fit to play either Dwight Yorke or Teemu Tainio will be the favourites to replace the captain.

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