AFTER playing alongside some of the greatest to have set foot on the Premiership stage, it is small wonder Dwight Yorke knew little before an August move to Sunderland about Grant Leadbitter.

But, having spent the last four months learning about the talented young midfielder's game, Yorke is full of admiration for someone he feels is destined to get better and better.

Leadbitter formed a central midfield pairing alongside the former Manchester United striker at Burnley last weekend and the younger of the two scored the first for his side in a 2-2 draw.

The strike from Fencehouses' finest from just outside the box was further evidence he possesses a lethal right foot shot and Yorke, a potent goal-getter during his title-winning days at Old Trafford, has been won over.

At the age of 20 Leadbitter clearly has age on his side and Yorke feels that under the guidance of Roy Keane - himself a legendary combatant in midfield - the local product of the Academy system can keep developing.

"I must say I didn't have a clue about him but I've been impressed," said Yorke. "He's a little bit young in some of the things he does but he's got time to learn. He's got the right environment and the right management staff to try to improve him.

"You can see his game is blossoming and he's taking his opportunity whenever he's been given it. The better he does and the better the team does, it's better for everybody.

"He's got a fiercesome shot on him and an eye for goal. That's why the gaffer's pushed him forward with the likes of me and Graham Kavanagh trying to hang back."

Along with the likes of Yorke, Leadbitter and Kavanagh there is also Liam Miller and Dean Whitehead keen to keep a place in the middle in the Championship. Tommy Miller could also still return from his loan spell at Preston in January intent on forcing his way into Keane's plans.

And Yorke, who has been used as a substitute on a number of occasions himself this season, believes that could be to the benefit of Leadbitter's progression - recalling he still only has 22 league starts behind him.

"It means he's (Keane) got good options and that's the important thing. It's my responsibility as a senior pro to make sure I try to guide Grant in the right direction," said Yorke, who could be back on the bench at Crystal Palace on Friday night after his error cost Sunderland a goal at Turf Moor.

"It's also important not to take away what he's good at. He needs to go out and be natural. Along the way he will mistakes and we've got to try to make allowances. Even me, at my age, will make mistakes so it's good to have people around him with experience."

Yorke is at his seventh club, aged 35, and has cost a combined figure of £16m in transfer fees during his career.

And, drawing on his experiences as captain of Trinidad & Tobago, he enjoys being the older head on the training field.

"I have liked it," said Yorke, a Champions League winner in 1999. "I thought it was going to be a little bit difficult and it was for the first two or three weeks after coming from Sydney and a hot climate. But I've no qualms about coming here, it's been absolutely brilliant. I've got all my winter clothes now but I'm getting used to it."

l Sunderland are advising all supporters wishing to attend Boxing Day's fixture with Leeds United to purchase tickets as soon as possible. The Black Cats Bar is now sold out, as is all Stadium Car parking.

l Wycombe's Carling Cup hero Jermaine Easter admits he almost walked away from the game after being farmed out on loan to non-league Spennymoor.

The 24-year-old Welshman took his tally to five in the competition with the strike which sank Barclays Premiership strugglers Charlton at The Valley last night, as the Chairboys booked their place in the semi-finals for the first time.

While now a leading marksman in Coca-Cola League Two, the future was not so bright for the Cardiff-born forward back in December 2003 when he found himself playing in the UniBond Premier.

Easter said: ''At that stage of my career I was ready to quit. They were not good times.

''I knew it was the wrong decision to go there on loan from Hartlepool, but I could not get out of it and had to play there for a month."