Alan Irvine wants bite from Craig Gardner

West Brom boss Alan Irvine has urged Craig Gardner not to tone down his tackling as the midfielder returns from suspension at Chelsea on Saturday.

Gardner looks set for an immediate recall at Stamford Bridge after five bookings in his first 10 Baggies appearances saw him banned for the 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

Irvine has warned the former Villa and Birmingham man to avoid "silly" yellow cards but urged him not to alter his style of play for fear of another suspension.

"I think it's a hazard of the way he plays," said Irvine. "He is extremely committed. He has had some silly bookings and he got some early on in the season but he is a really wholehearted player.

"He is not somebody who is going to go around kicking people but, being committed, he mistimes things.

"I don't want him to change the way he is playing, but I don't want him to be booked either.

"It's really important, especially the way things are nowadays, that players are extremely disciplined the way they play because you pick up bookings much easier now that you did in the past.

"It's hard but players have got to be disciplined and try to avoid rash challenges."

Gardner was Albion's first signing of the summer when he joined on a free transfer from Sunderland before Irvine's appointment, and the head coach has hailed the midfielder's impact.

"He has slipped in and just got on with it," said Irvine. "The group love him and the staff do.

"He's fantastic to have around the place. His training every single day is as good as he can do.

"He's a really fit lad, he's a very professional non-drinker – which I think nowadays is very important. He is a dream to work with."