Gardner ... back in the fold for three years.

REGGAE BOYZ captain Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner signed a new contract yesterday that extends his stay at English Premiership club, Bolton Wanderers, by another three years.

The 29-year-old Jamaican, a strong left-sided player whose versatility allows him to competently fill roles at full back of midfield, had been out of contract as his previous deal ended last season and, according to reports posted yesterday on the club's official website, 'www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk', Gardner, who had "provisionally accepted deals earlier in the summer ... finally put pen to paper this afternoon after reporting back for training".

Described by former manager Sam Allardyce as his best signing while he pulled the strings at the Reebok Stadium, Gardner, who has also captained the team, was actually one of two players who signed new contracts with the Gary Megson-managed team yesterday, the other being long-time goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who committed to another four years.

Gardner was drafted into the senior national football team during Rene Simoes' first tenure as technical director. At the time, he was a teenager attending Wolmer's Boys' School.

Perfect stage

The 1998 World Cup in France provided the perfect stage for Gardner to further advertise his talent and Wanderers reacted quickest by snapping up the Harbour View player for a then Jamaica record £1 million fee (J$65m at the time).

Since 1998, he has been a regular, making over 250 appearances for the British club, despite the fact that knee ligament injuries that have led to surgeries - as well as a rib problem that significantly limited his participation last season.

Gardner returns to World Cup action on August 20 with an away game for Jamaica against Canada in Toronto.