The Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation have relented in their threat to have the pair banned under FIFA rules because they didn't report for their country's friendly in Jamaica tonight.

Jones missed last weekend's 1-0 win at Aston Villa because of flu, while Edwards was was substituted at Villa Park and subsequently withdrawn from the trip to Kingston because he is suffering from a groin injury.

But T&T refused to take Sunderland's word over Edwards's problem in particular and officials said they would invoke a FIFA sanction preventing players training or playing for their club for five days if they fail to show for an international game.

High level talks have taken place between the Black Cats and T&T special advisor Jack Warner, who is also FIFA vice-president.

He said he had been contacted by Sunderland boss Roy Keane and T&T legend Dwight Yorke – who captained his country at the 2006 World Cup – over the row.

"We are putting all that behind us," said Warner, officially announcing the June 1 friendly between England and the T&T.

"We won't invoke the FIFA regulation," he pledged.
There is no guarantee, of course, that Jones and Edwards will be healthy enough to be involved against the Hammers on Saturday.

The first signs of compromise between the parties emerged last last night.

T&T were disgruntled after claiming Sunderland would not send Edwards to Birmingham for an independent medical on his groin injury.

The Caribbean country's spokesman, Shaun Fuentes, said that there was dialogue during yesterday.

Fuentes said: "Sunderland are in touch with the management and the issue could be resolved.

"Both sides will want to ensure that there remains a relationship, so it is possible something can be done, but it is an issue we feel strongly about.

"Sunderland were initially unwilling to co-operate and we were left with little choice (other than to invoke the five-day rule).

"The reaction to this has been that Sunderland are now making efforts to co-operate and we are waiting for a scan for Carlos. Why they couldn't just do that in the first place I don't know."

Sunderland have maintained a public silence on the issue.

But the pay off for T&T could be that Yorke agrees to return to his country's colours against England, as will fellow leading light Russell Latapy.

Warner said: "Dwight was thrilled to be invited to play against England. He and Russell played a pivotal role in getting our country on the world map and this is our way of thanking them."

The Sunderland midfielder has not played for his country since becoming embroiled in a row over bonus payments to T&T players following their World Cup appearance.