From out of favour to key man ... how Michael Ihiekwe turned his Rotherham United career around

Off the field, everything has been good for the defender this season, with partner Rosie giving birth to the couple's first child, Abel, two months ago.

But the centre-half, a likely starter against play-off-chasing Derby County this weekend as Rotherham United emerge from the international break for their survival run-in, has had to overcome adversity to prove his worth on the pitch.

Ihiekwe was out of favour with the Millers at the start of the campaign and headed to Accrington Stanley for a loan spell in League One before coming back to claim his place in Paul Warne's second-tier side.

Now, he is one of the first names on the teamsheet after barely putting a foot wrong in eight matches since returning in January and pushing himself into the team.

“I'm loving the Championship,” he said. “I've always wanted to play at this level. To drop down a division at the start of the season was a bit disappointing for me, but I just had to look at it as an opportunity to play.

“When I went out on loan, the gaffer told me the door would be open here when I got back. He told me to keep my head down and that's what I did.

“I just wanted to get fit and play every week so that when I returned I was really firing and I could try to force my way into the team.

“I'm pleased with how I've done. I just want to keep pushing. I don't want to settle.”

Manager Warne gave his squad some time off during the two-week break and Ihiekwe used it to squeeze in some family bonding.

“I've just had a little one so there won't be much madness for me,” the 26-year-old said as Rotherham signed off by winning at Queens Park Rangers 2-1 and then pushing leaders Norwich City all the way before losing by the same score at AESSEAL new York Stadium.

“It will be an opportunity to spend more time with him and my missus. I haven't seen Abel and Rosie much this week because of the travelling and having to stay over for the QPR game. There won't be anything crazy.”

With eight games to go, Rotherham travel to Pride Park third from bottom in the table but firmly in the fight to stay up after taking eight points from their last six outings - the best return of any side in the bottom seven.

“Every game is massive now, isn't it?” Ihiekwe said. “We've got another tough one coming up at Derby. We just need to keep our performances up and we'll be fine.

“If you're not excited about matches like these then you're never going to be excited.”

Warne, like everyone else, has been  impressed how the man he took from non-league Tranmere Rovers in 2017 has adapted to the Championship after last term's Millers promotion.

“Some players suit a higher division,” the boss said.

“I let Icky go out on loan because he wasn't in my plans or close enough to the team. I wanted him to 'man up' a bit and he has. I don't want to tempt fate, but he's been excellent since he got into the team.

“I brought him back in January and told him if he looked like one of the two best centre-halves he would play. Since he's had the shirt I haven't even considered not playing him.

“He brings a bit of calmness at times. He's got good feet, he can pick a pass.

“He had a good first professional season with us last year, then it petered out at the end because of injuries. He wasn't able to be part of it in the play-off final at Wembley.

“Accrington are a footballing side. They play through the lines really well. He probably got a lot of confidence playing in a good Accrington team and has brought that into our team.

“Here, he's played with Robbo (Clark Robertson) and Woody (Richard Wood) who are good people to play with. I'm really pleased with how he's done.

“We've talked about clubs coming in in the summer for some of our players. Sometimes it's the ones who don't get talked about so much who do well for us. I thought he was our best player at QPR.”

Maybe there's something in the water at the Millers' Roundwood training complex because Ihiekwe isn't the only Miller embracing fatherhood.

Winger Ryan Williams and midfielder Matt Crooks have just become dads while midfield man Darren Potter and centre-half Robertson are both due to hear the patter of tiny feet.

“I'm loving being a dad,” Ihiekwe said. “It's tough with this job because I'm away a lot but I'm enjoying it.”

He was away at Accrington from August 24 to January 3, making 20 league starts and scoring one goal.

His return to the Rotherham side came on February 2, in a 0-0 draw at Millwall, and he has since missed only one game, in the week when he became a parent.

His inclusion has coincided with the Millers best run of the season and has allowed Semi Ajayi to move into midfield from where the Nigeria international has scored six times in his last five games.

“Semi's flying,” he grinned. “Everything he hits goes in. He's saving them for the games because you don't see them much in training! He's on fire.”

Warne has already rewarded Ihiekwe with a contract extension until next summer, allowing the player to give all his attention to the next five weeks that will decide Rotherham's relegation fate, starting at Derby tomorrow.

“It's a nice bit of security for me,” he said. “It was important for me to come back, do well and earn that contract, particularly with having had the little one.

“We've shown we can compete with the top teams. It would be different if we were getting smashed 4-0 every week.”

The doting dad has shown something individually too: that when the Millers call on him at this level he's ready, willing and Abel.

This article first appeared in the Advertiser