THE conversion of Ricardo Gardner, born out of necessity last season, has become a matter of choice for Sam Allardyce.

When he looks at the jinking Jamaican these days, the Reebok boss sees a full-back rather than a winger, a key component of his plan to build the solid defensive foundation which is crucial to Wanderers' Premiership prospects.

It is a switch that confirms how Gardner has matured in the five years since he emerged as a raw talent with the celebrated Reggae Boyz in the 1998 World Cup Finals.To such a degree that the vastly-experienced and ever-reliable Simon Charlton will not be guaranteed a starting place when fully fit.

Left-sider Gardner prefers to get forward but he is not new to the defensive role, having played the majority of his international games at wing-back and he has clearly impressed his manager.

"Ricardo went back there when Simon Charlton was injured, having won all the Player of the Year awards the previous season," Allardyce said of the switch that was imposed on him during last season's run-in. "We had a settled back four - Ricardo, Florent Laville, Gudni Bergsson and Bruno N'Gotty - and that virtually held all the way through to the end of the season, apart from the last game when Florent was suspended.

"We had six clean sheets out of 12 and that was the turning point for us because one goal was always going to be enough to win us a game. We had five wins, three draws and just one defeat in our last nine games - and that's Champions League form.

"That's what turned the season for us and when you look at that, common sense tells you to go with the same back four. We can't have Gudni because he's retired but Emerson Thome has come in now and looks like he's settled in."

Like any manager, Allardyce wants competition for places and makes the point that nothing is set in stone. "Ricardo's doing well there and as well as having Simon Charlton available, Nicky Hunt has made a stand. He looked very good against Charlton and he puts extra pressure on Bruno N'Gotty and Anthony Barness

"We have a bit of solidity in the back line now."