Yorke in United quit threat

Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has warned manager Alex Ferguson he may quit the champions unless he gets a regular starting place.

The Trinidad and Tobago international, 29, has been forced to play a reduced role at Old Trafford this season as Ferguson builds his attack around 19 million-pound summer signing Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Yorke, who has fallen behind Van Nistelrooy, Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the battle for forward places, has hinted he is close to asking for a move.

"It's a situation any other player would certainly consider," he was quoted as saying in Wednesday's Mirror newspaper. "If you're a regular and a well-established player and you're not playing on a regular basis then you have to look at the alternatives.

"Without question I have been working extremely hard and I still am, so it has been a bitter disappointment."

The former Aston Villa player, who joined United for a then club-record fee of 12.6 million pounds three years ago, admitted he was becoming disillusioned with the situation.

"There are only 15 or so games gone now and in a season you play 60 odd. So there are still a lot of games to play. But the longer the season goes on and the less chances you are getting, the more disheartened you can become."