Rotherham United boss Paul Warne was back on press duties as he addressed the local media ahead of his side’s trip to Ipswich Town in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night.
Following a good win over Cambridge United over the weekend, Warne discussed the absent Ollie Rathbone, his squad’s overall health, whilst taking time to try and analyse where his team – who have performed so well of late – could still improve.
You can read the highlights from the press conference, below.
Warne on Ollie Rathbone...
"He's an option for us to travel tomorrow. I still haven't made a call on it and I'm going to see how he is today - we haven't yet trained.
"Obviously, if I can take him and use him, I will but I need to see how he is.
"As I speak to you now, I don't honestly know.
"I'd like to think he will definitely play a part."
Warne on team news...
"Everybody else is fine. There are no injuries.
"Griggy had a little bit of a sore foot and he had a scan on that but that has come back without any issues. We just wanted to rule out a possible fracture, but he hasn't and he doesn't have any severe pain today, which is win-win.
"We should have virtually every pro available."
Warne on overall squad health...
"Coming into this little period we had seven games in 21 days, so we're going to need everyone and to get through the first game without any issues is great.
"If we can keep that going then we're cruising.
"It doesn't half give you options. If I could five subs per game, I would.
"I would keep us as fresh as I can every game.
"At the moment - credit to my physical team - they are in good shape and good fettle, and long may that continue."
Warne on those options meaning rotation is made easier...
"The lads who don't start in the league games will play in the cup games, that is for sure.
"It is near-on impossible to keep everyone happy as a football manager.
"Everyone is competing for a place and while the standards are so high - which is set by the starting XI really - everyone comes in and has to perform to keep their shirt.
"They are causing me problems for the best reasons. There is nobody I wouldn't trust to wear the shirt, but sometimes you pick a team and get a gut feeling.
"We're fortunate that we have committed lads who look after themselves away from the club as well, which is important."
Warne on what he thinks the Millers may be able to improve upon, beyond their already excellent displays...
"There is always room for improvements and I didn't think we were great at the weekend - we looked a little bit rusty.
"Our set pieces look a bit sharper than normal but our throw-ins are under constant assessment.
"Maybe we can be a bit more ruthless. Even though we weren't at our best at the weekend, we could possibly have scored six or seven goals.
"Our attempts at goal are good and our entries into the final third are good and our work rate is excellent, but I still want more.
"Maybe we could take more chances, but if you speak to any manager they would want to score more goals so I'm not too unique there."
Warne on whether he compares current squad to previous successful ones...
"I don't compare, in fairness.
"I think we've had the core of this group together for a while and I think that makes a massive difference.
"They all understand what we expect and it is a lot easier than it is to build a new team every summer.
"We lost the loans last summer and Crooksy, but that was it, so it was an easier transition.
"The work that the coaches and physical team put into the players here is pretty immense.
"A bit like Wycombe, we sort of knew what we were dealing with.
"I don't know whether it's a better squad, but it might be better prepared.
"They know what we want and there are no grey areas with them. They know all the answers."
Warne on facing Ipswich Town...
"My assessment of them is no different to everybody else's possibly. I've always liked Cooky [Paul Cook] and the way his teams play.
"He's virtually always 4-2-3-1.
"They've had a new team which took some time to gel and now I think they are.
"They're a team that create chances and keep the ball very well.
"It's a team that we want to go to and try to win though. We'll pick an aggressive team and when the whistle goes we'll try to win, but it will be a big ask and I still think if you finish above Ipswich you will take one of the automatic spots."