Over the years, Notts have had some very steady defenders. Mike Edwards was one of them and people called him Steady Eddie. In midfield, we had hard-working players like Matt Palmer and Neal Bishop who always gave their all and were very reliable.

Now it feels like we have a new player doing the same. Rod McDonald has come in while Matty Platt has been out and he’s been brilliant. He’s not just filled the gap, he’s made that spot his own and is playing really well every game.

He’s so solid in the middle of the back three that I don’t know how we’ll take him out. I keep thinking about how Platt will fit back in. Maybe I’m not the only one wondering that.

I prefer Rod McDonald in the middle. He plays the role with ease and looks comfortable doing it. What I think and what will happen are not always the same. I reckon Rod will end up as the third choice. I can't see the club or Martin Paterson dropping Matty Platt for long, even though McDonald has done well.

Even with Platt playing well, I still think McDonald is the better option.

Sonny Aljofree is stronger at defending than Lewis Macari. Macari offers more going forward, so it depends on what the team needs most. Lucas Ness is harder to judge. He’s had injuries and hasn’t really settled into the side yet. Jacob Bedeau is tough to leave out, even when he’s not at his best. He’s got a presence that’s hard to replace.

Rod McDonald has looked very comfortable. I think Martin Paterson might move him back to the right side of the centre backs. It would be a shame if that made the defence less balanced. McDonald has done really well and deserves credit.

Rod McDonald has done very well since he came in. Incidentally, this season he already has 2 PON Man of the Match awards to his name, so he has been recognised by PON members for his performances in the Notts defence.

It is so important to have a mean defence in League 2 & I do think with the defensive players we have available, Notts are in a very good place.

McDonald, Bedeau, Macari, Aljofree, Ness & Platt can only get better, and with Palmer, Robertson, Norburn, & Iorpenda in front of them the prospects for Notts are very encouraging. I think it will be difficult for Paterson to drop Rod the way he's playing right now

Rod McDonald is doing really well at the moment, but good form doesn’t always last. Any player can have a bad patch or be swapped out if someone else is doing better. I think he’s a great defender and we’ve got strong choices in the middle. I hope he keeps playing well, but I also think Matty Platt is brilliant. We just need everyone at the back to stay solid.

I didn’t expect Rod McDonald to be doing better than players who looked nailed-on starters. The partnership of Jacob Bedeau and Matty Platt seemed strong, but even before Platt’s injury, McDonald was showing he added something extra to the back three. It’s a good thing for the squad. Even if he ends up playing less, I’m sure he’ll take any chance he gets. Right now, it’s hard to leave him out of the starting eleven.

Look at it from MP's perspective. Platt started the first 2 or 3 games, was actually pretty ragged and involved in the concession of goals. McDonald comes in after Platt is injured and becomes just about our best player since that point. Pato will be so grateful and there's no way in the world the question in the OP would come into his head.

@Robbie, rightly says he's won 2 PON MoMs, not an easy thing to do. I think I voted for him 4 times in 5 games, he's been that good. If he maintains his form, Platty will only get back in as RCB. RodMac has said in interviews that centre is his best, followed by LCB. I don't think any fan would want to see him and his cultured left foot trapped on the right-side again. To my eye, he's also stepping up in terms of leadership as an experienced player with a strong personality right in the centre of things. Final thought, he might be a late developer - his bio suggests it - and he may be reaching his peak now at 33. Could be...

There are a tonne of tough games coming up, even if his from does drop, his contribution to stabilise our season over the last 7 games has been immense.