ROY KEANE drafted Dwight Yorke into Sunderland as a striker but, having been forced to play him in a more defensive role last weekend, the former Manchester United forward is about to become a full-time midfielder.

With Graham Kavanagh recovering from a knee injury and Grant Leadbitter rested, Yorke was solid in midfield alongside Dean Whitehead in the 2-0 win over Barnsley.

The 34-year-old clearly put his experience to good use by dictating play as a sitting midfielder and Keane is ready to ask his former Old Trafford colleague to play there more often, starting at Hull City tomorrow.

Yorke has played in that position for Trinidad & Tobago at the World Cup and with former club Sydney FC, but the English league is a completely different proposition.

Keane, a renowned world-class midfielder during his playing days, is confident Yorke possesses all the attributes required to ensure he becomes a success at Sunderland.

"I'm well aware of his strengths. He has played there for club and country, I had no problem with playing him there and he proved I was right to think like that," said the Sunderland manager.

"He has the experience, the cool head, he can pass, tackle and he did all that for us last weekend. He has been playing that role. He likes being involved and seems to enjoy every part of it.

"It's different to playing in Australia but he was keen to come back and try something different, a new challenge. The others look up to him for what he has done and he has to take that on board."

The dilemma Keane will be faced with in a couple of weeks will be who to play when Kavanagh makes his return to the fold.

Kavanagh, the Republic of Ireland international, will be back in training soon but is still a couple of reserve games away from making a comeback from a two-month lay-off.

When he does, though, Keane must decide whether Yorke is moved further up the field to accommodate both Whitehead and Kavanagh in the middle.

Either way the Sunderland boss feels Yorke can handle it. "He could still play in the middle with Graham Kavanagh," said Keane. "The pair of them would do well together, I'm sure.

"But he showed last week with Dean that they can both play there as well.

"Dwight likes to sit and pass the ball, which allows the others to push forward. Obviously Dwight, after spending his career as a centre-forward, likes to get forward as well, which is good for us."

Tomorrow's trip to the KC Stadium looks like it has arrived too soon for club captain Steve Caldwell.

Caldwell, out for two months with a knee problem, emerged from 65 minutes of Wednesday's reserves game with Leeds United unscathed and is nearing a Championship return.

But he is unlikely to be considered at Hull, even though Kenny Cunningham has been ruled out until December with his own knee ligament problem sustained against Barnsley.

"I would not put a comeback on Stevie this weekend because it would be too harsh on him," said Keane, who will also refrain from asking Stephen Elliott to play.

"He has come through, which is good. He is the club captain and he will be good to have on the pitch again when he does play," added Keane