DANNY Collins is confident of being fit enough for Wales' crucial European Championships qualifier with the Czech Republic next month, but two of his Sunderland team-mates will not be on international duty after pulling out of the Republic of Ireland squad.

Liam Miller and Stephen Elliott have withdrawn from Ireland's summer tour of the United States citing "family commitments", but Collins remains desperate to represent his country as they look to get their Euro 2008 qualification campaign back on track in Cardiff.

Wales face Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, seven days after they take on New Zealand in a friendly at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, but Collins' participation had been in doubt.

The versatile defender sustained a hip injury as Sunderland claimed the Championship title at Luton on the final weekend of the season but, after remaining on Wearside to train with physio Pete Friar, he is now expected to link up with the rest of John Toshack's squad next week.

While Collins' international career is still in its infancy, Dwight Yorke's best days for Trinidad & Tobago are long gone.

The Black Cats midfielder announced his international retirement in March, but he could return for one final game so that his country's supporters can given him a fitting send-off.

Concacaf - the Caribbean equivalent of UEFA - plan to honour Yorke with a lifetime achievement award, and Trinidad & Tobago officials are hoping to persuade the 35-year-old to make one final appearance on the international stage.

Yorke is expected to appear alongside Sunderland team-mate Carlos Edwards as Trinidad & Tobago warm up for their forthcoming Gold Cup campaign with a friendly against Haiti on My 28.

Gareth Southgate has backed Dong-Gook Lee to make a significant impression on the Premiership next season now that his initial settling-in period is over.

The Middlesbrough striker is still to score in English football, but his appearance in the first team ahead of the out-of-favour Aiyegbeni Yakubu in the final two games of the campaign underlined just how highly he is rated on Teesside.

Understandably, Lee struggled to adapt to the English game following his move from Pohang Steelers in January.

But with a full pre-season programme under his belt, Southgate expects the South Korean striker to prove his value once the new Premiership campaign begins on August 11.

"In the games he has played, I have been very pleased with him," said the Boro boss. "For me, it is not just about scoring.

"Of course, ultimately, that is how you will be judged as a striker, but goals will come because he has shown me in training technically he is good enough.

"He is probably too anxious when he gets that chance at the moment, but he has only had three starts for us, so it is inevitable he will feel that way.

"He just needs a run of games."