And he insists he is fully committed to the Black Cats, depsite listening to offers elsewhere after his old deal expired.

A move back to Australia – where he played for Sydney before joining Sunderland in August, 2006 – looked on the cards for a lot of the summer, but he opted to face the challenge of playing in the Premier League at the age of 37.

Yorke said: "I keep saying 'one more year ... one more year'. Now that I've signed here at Sunderland I've just got to see what this year brings and see what I contribute to the team and weigh it up at the end.

"It's a challenge for me as a player to get in the team because there will be a lot of competition for places. It's what you want and hopefully that will bring out the best in me.

"It must be my 20th pre-season; the first one seems like yesterday. I've had a great time in my career and I still continue to do so. I'm really looking forward to the season, trying to contribute in whatever way I can.

"I had options. I wanted to go away and enjoy my time off, spend time with family and friends. I knew I needed to make a decision and this was the right time.

"It's rewarding to think that I will get the chance to play in the Premier League at the age of 37."

Boss and former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane reckons Yorke was his most influential signing from his two years in charge, as much for the midfielders impact off the pitch.

Yorke admitted: "As much as I want to be on the pitch playing, I think my role is important in and around the dressing room, to pass my experience on to the younger players.

"To help keep the lads' heads up when the times get tough, which they will at times."

But he does not intend to cruise through the season, and shares Keane's desire to improve Sunderland.

The Trinidad & Tobago legend said: "At this stage of my career, I just take one year at time. We did what we needed to do last season – we stayed in the Premier League.

"The manager was not particularly happy about where we finished, we need to try to better it this year and he wanted me to be part of it.

"We want to improve. I think to finish around the 10th, 11th, 12th mark – that would be a successful season."

Keane brings his squad together to start pre-season training on July 11 and Yorke expects a hard slog ahead of the opening game of the campaign at home to Liverpool on August 16.

He added: "They get harder when you get to my age but I have been keeping myself in pretty good nick. People who know me know the kind of work ethic I have behind the scenes, it will stand me in good stead.

"Liverpool at home – it's an easy start! It's always the case, we had a tough start last season but we know what to expect. We know it will be a hard campaign but we'll prepare well.

"I'm sure the gaffer will work us hard in pre-season, so that when the first whistle goes, we're ready to go."