Why Rotherham United boss Paul Warne is relishing defensive selection 'headaches'

Warne has often spoken about the struggles of managing five strikers and keeping Freddie Ladapo, Kyle Vassell, Michael Smith, George Hirst and Jamie Proctor happy is often a source of nocturnal drama for him.

But now he has a similar problem at the other end of the pitch as he has five solid centre-halves to slot into two positions.

Michael Ihiekwe is one of the first names on the teamsheet and the emergence of Angus MacDonald in the last two games has been a real eye-opener after he came in to replace the injured Clark Robertson.

Then there is club captain and dressing room general Richard Wood, who is fit again after a rib injury and also Curtis Tilt – a six-figure January transfer window signing from Blackpool – who is also nearing fitness following hip surgery.

That is not to mention Adam Thompson, another capable defender who has yet to get in Warne's matchday squad this season.

Five does not go into two, meaning Warne has some head-scratching to do.

“I have decided that I am going to play with five centre-halves and play a different system,” Warne told the Star.

“It is difficult and out of those five none of them are pups. Curtis Tilt has come here to play, Woody has been our most reliable campaigner and captain over the last few years, Robbo is the best on the ball out of all of them and Angus has come in...

“I appreciate you putting an extra headache into my mind!

“Maybe one of those will go out on loan because five doesn't go into two so it is tricky.

“No one is going to have three centre-halves on the bench, that is going to be tricky to manage.

“It is difficult and I look forward to the headaches.”

Warne will hope another one of his defenders, Joe Mattock, is back fit for the Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield on Saturday.

The left-back missed last weekend's draw at Birmingham with a quad injury sustained in training two days before.

Warne kept the injury under wraps, though it is not serious.