Blackburn finally capture Yorke

DWIGHT YORKE says he is desperate to re-establish himself as one of the best strikers in the Premiership after his cut-price move to Blackburn.

Yorke finally ended his Manchester United misery yesterday when he joined Blackburn in a £2million deal.

Yorke is thrilled at the prospect of reforming his old United striking partnership with Andy Cole.

The former Trinidad and Tobago international had fallen right out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his refusal to join Middlesbrough in January scuppered United’s move for Paolo di Canio.

Yorke, who scored 66 goals in 152 appearances for United, had been restricted to just two substitute appearances this year and he is overjoyed by the prospect of playing regular first-team football again.

“I can’t tell you how delighted I am to sign for Blackburn and to get this great opportunity,” he said.

“I’m desperate to re-establish myself in the Premiership and there’s a passion and hunger to do well.”

Yorke, 30, has agreed a three-year deal with Blackburn and the fee could rise to £2.6million depending on appearances and how well Rovers do.

Even if Rovers do eventually fork out another £600,000 to United, manager Graeme Souness has no doubts that the transfer will still represent a very good piece of business.

He had been after Yorke for months, but the deal had stalled on United’s

refusal to lower their asking price.

The Reds finally decided to cut their losses on Yorke, who cost them a then club record £12.6million from Aston Villa in August 1998, and accept Rovers’ offer.

Souness said: “Dwight is a player of the highest quality with a proven record, who I have targeted for some time. He can only be an asset for us as we look to move forward.”

Souness clearly believes he can help Yorke recapture the sort of form that saw him score 29 goals in his first season at Old Trafford as United won an historic treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup.

His partnership with Cole was the most feared in Europe that season and between them they scored 53 goals.

Although he never quite hit those heights again, he did manage to top 20 Premiership goals the following season.

His relationship with Ferguson soured during the next campaign and he found himself relegated from first to fourth in the strikers’ pecking order at Old Trafford.

Last season was best forgotten and he had not featured for United since coming on as a late substitute against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in January.