Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has warned Troy Deeney to curb his temper with the striker primed to return at Bristol Rovers.

The hitman is set for a comeback at the Memorial Ground, after missing the goalless draw with the Pirates on Saturday through suspension.

Deeney was sent off against Charlton last week after picking up his first booking for dissent before being given the first red card of his career.

Hutchings has told the 10-goal forward to learn from his disappointment and not put his team-mates in the same position again.

He said: “Troy is very committed and works extremely hard for the team and is scoring goals, but he got booked for having a go at the referee and he has to learn from that.

“It could cost us and he has to learn. You aren’t going to change the refereeing decisions. If he hadn’t gobbed off he would have only got a yellow card.

“It’s something he has to learn, simple as that and you get booked for things like that these days. You see people scoring, taking their shirts off, getting booked for it and then having a moan at the referee.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about, you get a little bit carried away but you must keep it check and do a jig instead.”

Hutchings admits it is one of his pet hates and believes his players must learn how far they can go with officials.

He said: “It’s frustrating, you can kick the ball away or throw it up in the air and they are bookable offences, but they are refereeing by the law. In our day the referee would call you a name or two and you could have a go back to take the heat out of the moment, but these days it’s by the law and we have to abide by it.”

Hutchings has spoken to the 21-year-old but he is ready to give him an instant recall after the Saddlers stretched their winless run to eight games.

Manny Smith should also be available with the defender confident of shaking off his thigh injury, but Steve Jones’ persistent groin injury sidelines him again.

Skipper Mark Hughes isn’t yet match fit and will stay on the bench, while youngster Sean Geddes will travel.