BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to give Dwight Yorke a second chance after admitting he wants the striker to stay at Ewood Park.

In a dramatic U-turn, Souness described Yorke as a 'class act' and said he could go on to become a role model for the club's young players.

But the Rovers boss added that if the pair are to work successfully together in the future then it has to be 'on his terms.'

Souness and Yorke's stormy relationship appeared to have reached rock bottom 10 days ago when they were both highly critical of each other in separate interviews for rival tabloid newspapers.

Since then, however, the pair have had a heart to heart and Souness even took the step of recalling the striker for last night's friendly with Stockport County, in which he completed a full 90 minutes and impressed the manager with his attitude.

"I would like Dwight to stay," said Souness.

"He's a class act and there's very few players around who have his ability.

"Dwight and I don't see eye to eye on every aspect of football but I want him to stay at our club because I think he's got something to offer.

"He's been a top player, he still is a top player but I'm looking for more than he gave us last year and that's not just on the pitch, that's off the pitch as well.

"Players like him can offer so much to the club in general and by that I mean helping the younger ones by being a good role model.

"Every good club has good senior pros and that's what I want Dwight to be."

Souness revealed that he and Yorke had had a full and frank discussion since the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Germany at the weekend.

But he emphasised that the onus is still on Yorke to prove he wants to be part of next season's planning.

"We've had a sit down but that was a conversation between he and I," added the Rovers boss.

"He knows what I want from him and it's up to him to come up with the answers."

Souness insisted their chat was not a 'clear the air' meeting but he did spell out what he expects from Yorke in the future if there's to be any chance of them working together on a professional basis.

"It wasn't a clear the air meeting," said Souness.

"I want Dwight to stay because he's a class act. But it has to be on my terms because there has to be a boss in every walk of life.

"I've got a boss and he's got to have a boss so it has to be on my terms."