Back to business for Warnock after April Fools’ Day prank

The words were met with a stunned silence from the journalists assembled as the former Sheffield United manager –hoping to keep the Millers in the Championship – sat with a stony-faced expression, looking each and every reporter in the eyes.

As the colour drained from faces and phones were about to be brought out of pockets, Warnock began to smirk.

“Got you, didn’t I?” he said, now grinning from ear-to-ear, the relief audible among those in attendance.

A great gag and typical of a manager who has spent almost 30 years in the game.

But, perhaps more importantly, what it showed was a clear indication of the relaxed atmosphere in the Millers’ camp at the moment and a glimpse of the humour that the former Sheffield United boss has in his locker.

After the April Fools’ gag was over it was down to serious business and the little task of overcoming Leeds United in a Yorkshire derby at the AESSEAL New York Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) .

Add to the mix former manager Steve Evans’ first return to the Millers’ home and the fact both Warnock and his assistant Kevin Blackwell have both managed the visitors and you’ve got as intense a derby as you could ask for.

But with a sell-out crowd at the New York Stadium tomorrow and expectancy building that the Millers will be competing in the Championship once again next year, Warnock kept his feet firmly on the ground.

He said: “With eight games to go, we haven’t achieved anything at the moment.

“We’ve got to now push on and try and get as many points as we can over the final eight games and hope that is enough.

“It’s a matter of not taking our foot off the pedal now and we won’t have a better game than Leeds, it’s going to be a fabulous atmosphere.”

Warnock spent just over a year in charge of the West Yorkshire side and said he is looking forward to pitting his wits against Leeds.

He said: “I’m not being disrespectful to any of my former clubs but Leeds is the biggest club I’ve ever managed, regarding the place and the training facilities and the catchment area.

“I was the manager of QPR earlier in the season when we played Leeds and the noise generated by the away fans lifted the whole ground, because there’s so many of them it got the home fans going.

“The same will happen here, the Leeds fans will be noisy, I’m sure I’ll get a few adjectives aimed at myself which I’ll enjoy, I seem to get that everywhere I go at the minute.

“It’s the part of football I miss when I’m sat at home on my tractor, whether you love me or hate me, there’s enough manager that are bland at the moment.”

On the injury front, Warnock has striker Danny Ward back fit after a back spasm kept him out of the Ipswich win while winger Jerome Thomas and defender Frazer Richardson are also available.

Warnock said: “Danny Ward should be available after seeing a specialist on Tuesday with the physio.

“I think he knows what he needs to do now to strengthen his back, he’s going to have to live with this now, it’s not something he can have an operation on.

“He’s been flying in training so I’m happy with him.

“I think Jerome Thomas and Frazer Richardson will both be okay.

“I didn’t think Frazer would be okay but he trained really well yesterday and I think he’s desperate to get back into the squad.”