Middlesbrough's Lewis Wing receiving Rotherham United crash course, says Paul Warne

The 25-year-old, who joined on loan on February's deadline day, has arguably been the Millers' best player during the Championship run-in, although despite coming frustratingly close on a number of occasions, he is yet to get off the mark for the club. It is a blow, therefore, that under the terms of his loan he is not allowed to face his parent club in the last of four consecutive matches at New York Stadium.

As well as the quality of his football, Warne has been impressed by the commitment Wing has shown during a punishing schedule. He started three of their four games in eight days, and played more than half an hour as a substitute in the other.

“Wingy's done really well,” said Warne. “He can't play in midweek because he's a Middlesbrough player but he's done really well and he really cares. With loan players, if we go down it doesn't affect Lewis's life as much as it does mine and virtually everyone else in the dressing room's. His attitude's been spot on and he'll have a great career.”

This is the second loan spell of Wing's career having spent the second half of 2017-18 at League Two Yeovil Town, and Warne believes he will return to the Riverside a much better player for the adversity he has faced – even more so if Rotherham can come out the right side of it.

“I hope he learns a lot from being in this situation,” he said. “I care about all my players but fundamentally I care about the club. He will improve.

“If you're playing football in mid-table or at the top where you feel on flames, to make him a better footballer, playing where there's a lot more pressure in a different way might add to him.

“I didn't bring him here for a relegation fight, I thought we wouldn't have these issues, but if it makes Lewis better, I want the best for him. Hopefully he'll go on but after helping us fight against relegation and surviving, then he'll be an even better player.”

The Millers are four points from safety with two games in hand but the equation will have changed by Wednesday, with the team directly above the relegation zone, Wayne Rooney's Derby County, at Preston North End on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, next Tuesday's Championship trip to Brentford has been chosen for live Sky coverage. The game will still kick off at 7pm.

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