Nacer Chadli responded to a telling off, says Tony Pulis

The Belgian is now back in the team after being left out at the start of the season following his refusal to attend Pulis’s pre-season camp in Austria.

The Welshman had wanted to re-instate the 28-year-old sooner, but a muscle strain kept him on the sidelines until the trip to Leicester.

And Pulis is pleased with how Chadli has bounced back from a few stern words.

“It's nice to have Chadders back,” said Pulis. “He's had a telling off and he's responded to that and he's had a kiss and cuddle and he's responded to that.

“I don't think anyone is adverse to being told off or having a cuddle now and then, it's about picking the right time to do it, I think that's the important thing.”

Chadli’s decision to skip the gruelling week in Austria annoyed some of his team-mates who did have to run up hills until they felt sick.

But Pulis says the Belgian was not ostracised from the group in any way.

"I don't think he's ever felt left out,” said the head coach. “I don't think the dressing room is a dressing that isolates players or pushes players into a corner, it's a very good dressing room.

“Nacer will tell you he's never felt on the outside and that is something good about this place and something good about the senior players at this club.”

Chadli was up for sale in the summer following his disagreement with Pulis, but no club matched Albion’s £25m valuation for the forward.

Although Pulis says his record signing is ‘settled’ again, he is predicting plenty of speculation over Chadli’s future once the January transfer window rolls around.

"That's over until the next window opens, then all that speculation will start again,” he said. “So up until January 1 he is settled, like everyone else at the moment.”

Chadli marked his comeback with a brilliant free-kick against Leicester but has looked rusty in open play so far.

Pulis is hoping he can rediscover his blistering form from the start of last season, and he believes the World Cup at the end of the season may help him.

“Chadli was exceptional for us until he got the injury after seven or eight games last year and then he dropped off and never reached that peak again,” said Pulis.

“We're hoping to get him back into form that he was in the beginning of that season and with the World Cup coming up as well he has that incentive.

“Belgium have a wonderful team and to get to Russia he needs to play well for us. Nacer needs to get to that level that guarantees him a place on that plane.”