The SIMON GARNER column. . .

GRAEME Souness sprang a surprise when he brought Dwight Yorke back in from the cold at Stockport earlier this week.

I, like many fans, thought the former Manchester United striker had played his last game in the colours of Blackburn Rovers.

But then Souness shocked us all by extending a hand of peace in the direction of a player who had lambasted him in a national newspaper only 10 days before.

Now Souness's actions can be interpreted in one of two ways.

Either the Rovers chief has suddenly found a forgiving streak, or he's rapidly come to the conclusion that he's running out of other options in his quest to beef up his strike-force.

Whichever way you look at, Souness's decision to reinstate the 32-year-old can only be viewed as a major U-turn by the manager.

Two weeks ago, Yorke's stock at Rovers had slumped to such a low that he was left out of the squad that travelled to Germany for a pre-season tour.

That's why it was then all the more surprising to hear Souness talking as if the prodigal son had returned at Edgeley Park on Wednesday night.

But if there is to be a lasting reconciliation between the two then it's going to take an element of compromising on both men's parts.

It's alright settling your differences in public but the underlying problems will always be simmering away in the background unless there's a real determination on both sides to make things work.

The acid test will probably come at the start of the season.

Dwight might find himself on the bench for the first game against West Brom and that could lead to him falling out with the manager all over again.

If you ask me, the onus is on Dwight to get his head right.

When he's in the side and playing well, he does look a decent player but his head has to be right to enable that to happen.

He should be saying to himself 'Right. I'm earning good money, I'm coming towards the end of my career, and I've got a chance to do something here.

'I can either be remembered as a good footballer who just scored goals for Manchester United and Aston Villa, or I can also be remembered as a player who did well for Blackburn Rovers as well.'

In my book, he's got to knuckle down and sort his life out, particularly if he's partying as much as he's rumoured to be.

If he cuts that out then you never know, he could go on to have a good season with Rovers.

Maybe the fact that Andy Cole has now moved on will help him as well.

Those two were big mates on and off the pitch but some of Dwight's better games for Rovers have actually come when he's played alongside someone else.

At the end of the day, no-one's come in for Dwight whilst he's been on the list so perhaps he's better off staying where he is.

If he's fit and focused then he could be a useful man to have around but it all comes down to how much he wants it.