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.

It’s a great problem for MP to have, I don’t see how he can drop Rod McDonald on current form, whether he can incorporate Platt and McDonald in the same team remains to be seen.

I think while we are winning and the defence is doing well he’ll keep faith with those who have the shirt at present, to me that would make sense until there is an injury or loss of form. I agree with @Ash good form doesn’t always last but while it does why change anything?

Rod McDonald has done a great job helping to steady the defence and has shown he deserves to start. He filled in at DCR when needed and did well, but he looks much more at ease playing in the middle. With the way he’s performing, it’s hard to imagine him being left out, and there’s no reason to change things while he’s in such good form.

One of the positives is that Matty Platt’s injury doesn’t feel like such a big worry now. We can give him all the time he needs to recover properly without rushing him back. That’s important, because the last thing we’d want is to bring him in too soon and risk making things worse.

McDonald’s strong form means we’re not under pressure to make changes, and that’s a big help. It also gives Martin Paterson a chance to look closely at how Platt might fit into the defence when he’s ready. There’s time now to make sure it’s the right move, rather than a quick fix.

Rod McDonald came into the team at the right time, but I think things might have been different had Martin Paterson not brought Matty Platt on against Barrow. McDonald should have stayed on, as he was the best defender in that game, and we were very much outplayed by them. McDonald brought some stability at the back, and the games after showed this.

Platt might have come back stronger from being rested, which is what I hope for when he comes back from his injury. He's a good defender, as is McDonald, and there's no reason why the back three can't be these two and Jacob Bedeau based on performances.

Right now, the middle of the back three is McDonald's until his form changes, and I hope he manages to keep giving such reliable performances.

Right now, I would have him above Jacob Bedeau and any other defender.

His form is very stable right now, and he seems in a routine, but this can change. Based on his starts so far, he's done nothing to be replaced, and no other centre back has done enough to claim the centre of our defence. I wonder if Jacob Bedeau would be more consistent out wide, which could be something to explore once Matty Platt is 100%. I think it's very important to acknowledge players who are in form, instead of just accepting it because maintaining it does seem a lot harder than some fans think.

Being a professional doesn't mean you will always be at your best; giving 100% isn't always a reflection on their ability to impact games.

I don't think you could drop Rod McDonald on his current form. I can't see it being an issue for some yet. Platt has fairly long term injury and then has to get match fit. When he returns to fitness you would expect him to start on the bench and wait his chance. It's a good thing for the club to have competition for places. No one should feel they an automatic right to start. Keeps everyone on their toes!

It helped a lot that Rod McDonald was playing well before Matty Platt got injured. It made the situation feel less worrying. Platt hadn’t been showing the form we know he’s capable of. When he does come back, there should be less pressure on him to perform straight away.

Right now, there’s no reason to take McDonald out of the team. It’s good to see him looking so comfortable in his position.

Rod McDonald is a good example of what makes life easier for a manager. Part of the reason he's been so consistent might be down to Martin Paterson and the fact McDonald wants to impress the new coach. I thought he did alright under Stuart Maynard, but I feel he's showing his appreciation to Paterson for letting him take up the central spot in the back three.