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“Do what he wants and you’ll be okay,” said Edwards. “No one will ever change him.”

Keane has a reputation for being a hard task master with former Sunderland player Liam Lawrence insisting it was ‘different’ playing under him although he did not want to elaborate.

After being overwhelmed 3-0 by leaders Queens Park Rangers at Portman Road on Tuesday there is added importance on this Saturday’s home game against Cardiff City as the Blues look to stay among the Championship front runners.

Keane took the first defeat of the season in his stride saying he was relaxed about it, but he has been known to keep his players in the dressing room for an hour after matches laying down the law.

Edwards, who is a 31-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international, enjoys playing for the former Manchester United star having followed him down from Sunderland to Suffolk.

He was a vital member of the Black Cats team in the final months of the 2006/07 season that won the Championship title to gain a place in the Premier League.

Edwards was injured for much of the rest of the time before Keane left his post at the Stadium of Light in December 2008.

He has as much knowledge as anyone of what makes Keane tick, and admits that the manager does have his ‘dark’ moments.

“No one is going to change the gaffer – only his missus and kids perhaps,” said Edwards.

“I accept that and if you do what he wants then we will all be happy.

“He is straightforward – as long as you do what he demands, and the spirit in the camp is very good at the moment.

“I have tried to help my Ipswich team mates and having played for him for a long while I understand how he works.

“The Ipswich players know by now what the gaffer is all about.

“He had a few months with time on his hands before taking over Ipswich, and he had time to sit back and see what went wrong at Sunderland.”

Cardiff, who also lost their unbeaten league record when beaten 2-1 at Leicester on Tuesday, hope to have a couple of key players back in action on Saturday.

Bluebirds manager Dave Jones said: “We were caught out fitness-wise and hope to have two of our key players back to face Ipswich.”

Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Seyi Olofinjana all missed the trip to the Walkers Stadium.