Craig Gardner joins Sheffield Wednesday coaching staff with a brief to question manager Tony Pulis

Gardner, who turns 34 on November 25, retired from playing in the summer, although he spent his last season as Birmingham City's player-coach. He is Pulis's first appointment to the Owls coaching staff, having taken over as manager on Friday.

The Solihull-born attacking midfielder spent all of his career in the Midlands, save for three years with Sunderland. As well as winning 14 England Under-21 caps, he also played for Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion, where he played under Pulis.

The 62 year-old often works with some experienced former managers on his coaching staff, but likes to have a breadth of ages on his coaching staff.

“Craig is somebody I have great respect for, he is a top quality character,” he told the Owls' official website. “He's a young coach and very enthusiastic.

“Coaching is a massive cross-section of opinion and it’s nice to have people questioning what you’re doing and how you do things.

"I was one of the youngest people ever to get my coaching badges (he obtained his Football Association coaching badge at 19 and his UEFA A licence two years later) and was always questioning my managers! I think it’s healthy."

Gardner's precise role is yet to be outlined.

He made 327 career appearances, 260 in the Premier League, winning the League Cup in the first of two spells with Birmingham in 2011.

Pulis takes charge of his first game at Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday.

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