BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to recall Dwight Yorke for Rovers' latest pre-season friendly at Stockport County tonight.

Souness will name the former Manchester United striker in his squad for the trip to Edgeley Park.

And Yorke may even start the match against Sammy McIlroy's Coca-Cola League One outfit in a move that would be seen as a dramatic U-turn by the Rovers chief.

Souness had originally written the 32-year-old out of his plans altogether at the beginning of the summer after it was agreed that the striker could find himself a new club following a meeting between his advisers and Rovers' chief executive John Williams.

But Souness is now considering handing Yorke a shock life-line with the new season a little over two weeks away.

The move is all the more surprising considering the ex-Trinidad and Tobago international launched a stinging attack on Souness in a Sunday tabloid just 10 days ago.

In that interview, Yorke accused Souness of nearly breaking his leg and he also criticised the Rovers boss for trying to make him into a 'work-horse' striker, rather than the happy-go-lucky figure he was at Old Trafford.

Souness then hit back in a rival paper by criticising Yorke for allowing outside influences to affect his game.

After those interviews, their relationship seemed to have reached the point of no return.

But Souness is now considering bringing Yorke back into his plans after Andy Cole's move to Fulham has left him short of experienced strikers.

The Rovers boss still plans to bring in an experienced forward before the season starts in a little over a fortnight's time.

In the meantime, Yorke could be handed the chance to show he can still play a role.

Matt Jansen and Paul Dickov are the other two senior strikers on Rovers' book and boss Souness feels he needs a third experienced face to complement the youthful exuberance of Jonathan Stead and Paul Gallagher.

Meanwhile, Peter Enckelman is expected to take over in goal tonight after Souness revealed that Brad Friedel will take no further part in the club's pre-season friendlies.

Friedel suffered a slight tear in his 'kicking' muscle during last Friday's game with Bohemians Prague but Souness is hopeful the United States international will be fit to face West Brom in the Premiership on August 14.

"It's disappointing for Brad and the squad as preparations have been going well," said Souness.

"He will continue to have the best treatment, though, and I am hoping he will be fit to face West Brom in a couple of weeks."

Rovers' squad for tonight is: Enckelman, Yelldell, Neill, Ferguson, Johansson, Yorke, Gresko, Tugay, Matteo, Reid, Gray, De Pedro, Amoruso, Gallagher, Stead, Dickov, Emerton.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm and fans can pay on the gate at Edgeley Park.

Elsewhere, a strong Rovers XI beat Bury 4-3 in a training game at Brockhall yesterday.

Matt Jansen, Paul Gallagher, Vratislav Gresko and Jay McEveley all scored for a Rovers side that also featured Tugay, Paul Dickov, Steven Reid and David Thompson.