Premiership: Yorke’s future safe at Man U - Ferguson

Alex Ferguson has dismissed claims that Dwight Yorke could soon be leaving Manchester United after a row yesterday.

United’s director of communications Paddy Haverson insisted that Ferguson had stated that Yorke’s future at the club and first-team chances had not been affected by the incident, which happened when Yorke turned up late for a training session.

Haverson said Yorke’s late arrival was due to a misunderstanding as to what time training started.

Yorke had believed that yesterday’s session was only a light session, which would start earlier, since virtually all the first-team squad are away on international duty.

Yorke’s lateness is just one incident in a 12-month history of frustrating Ferguson.

Yorke reported late for duty last year and stormed out after being told he would not be playing against Chelsea a few weeks later.

He slipped from first to fourth in the striker’s pecking order while Ferguson expressed distaste at Yorke’s lifestyle, which includes a high-profile relationship with model Jordan.

However, Yorke’s form has improved with the backing of Ferguson since he quit playing for Trinidad and Tobago and was on top form for the teams pre-season tour of the Far East.