Rotherham United v MK Dons - Absence of former loan star Carlton Morris welcomed

Morris, who spent the first half of the season with Rotherham, returned to parent club Norwich City early in the new year before being loaned straight back out to MK Dons, managed by Canaries legend Russell Martin.

Unfortunately, the forward sits out Saturday’s game after being dismissed in the midweek loss at Portsmouth and while on a human level, Warne has sympathy, the professional side of him is likely to be pleased.

Warne said: “It is great, but sad in equal measure. I would have loved to see Carlton and hopefully he will still travel to the game. But I will not lie; him not playing is good as he is powerful.

“Although I brought him to the club, so I am going to say that!

“I did not want to text him after the (sending off) incident as it looked a little bit wrong. It is a pity he is not playing, but deep down, I am quite pleased.”

The Millers are defending an unbeaten league record on home soil in 2020 today and you have to go back to December 7 for their last League One loss at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

All told, Warne’s league leaders have seen their colours lowered just once in 14 matches, but the manager is mindful of an MK side who have lost just once in their past six games.

The Millers chief is also reading little into the fact that his side now face three games against sides in the bottom half of the table in with Rochdale and Southendto follow.

“I know they (MK Dons) lost at Portsmouth, but they are in form and they will be a really tough test for us,” Warne added.

“With all sincerity, I do not believe that playing teams in the bottom half is any easier or harder than playing teams in the top half.

“I do not think MK Dons will be any easier than Coventry. In fact, if you watch MK, like we have over the past few games, the way they play is going to cause us all sorts of problems.

“If you watch the game we played there, we could have been four or five down in the first half.”