CWMBRAN’S Danny Gabbidon has returned to Cardiff City as a player/coach.

The 35-year-old Wales international defender trained with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team over the summer after being released by Crystal Palace.

And he has now sealed a one-year playing deal at the Cardiff City Stadium and will join Solskjaer's coaching staff immediately.

Gabbidon spent five years at Cardiff after signing from West Bromwich Albion in August 2000 and made 219 appearances for the Bluebirds.

Gabbidon, who left Cardiff for West Ham United in 2005, has also played for Queens Park Rangers,

The Cwmbran-born player joined Palace on a free transfer in September 2012 but was one of 12 players released by the Eagles in May.

He has not been included in Wales manager Chris Coleman's squad for next week’s opening Euro 2016 qualifying match against Andorra.

Gabbidon remains a firm favourite with Cardiff supporters and enjoyed a good campaign in the Premier League last season, making 23 appearances for Palace as they survived the drop under Newport’s Tony Pulis.

He won his 49th cap for Wales in the friendly defeat in Holland this June but has not but has been without a club since then.

But Gabbidon has now been handed a Championship lifeline and a chance to start his coaching career by Solskjaer as the Bluebirds aim to bounce straight back up after relegation from the Premier League last season.

The Gwent veteran also told the Argus last year that he wants to extend his international career into the Euro 2016 campaign.

“I still want to be part of it,” said Gabbidon. “As long as I'm fit and playing regularly with my club, I want to be involved with the national team.

"If I'm not playing regularly that will change and I'm not going to be here, but I want to play well and keep going for as long as I can.

"As you get older you learn more about your body and what you can and can't do.

"I'm more educated now about what I've got to do to keep myself out on the pitch."