McNally column: Paul Hurst’s the sort of boss you want to play for

One of the reasons why is the attacking and committed style of play he likes his team to use.

And I think the Town players are also beginning to realise that Paul’s not only a very good manager but also a likeable fellow too.

I’m hoping we’ll see another example of the players wanting to do it for him at Rotherham.

The team can get better and better if they’re not only doing it for themselves, their families, the club – but also for the manager because they like what he’s doing.

Town’s players will have gone three weeks without a league game by the time Saturday’s trip to the manger’s former side comes around.

You just hope that the professionalism comes through. I know Paul’s done hard sessions this week and put them through their paces to keep the fitness levels up.

Sometimes it doesn’t do too much harm to have a couple of days off, but I’m sure when they came back on Monday they were really at it.

Paul was obviously a firm fans’ favourite when he played at Rotherham’s old ground Millmoor. I’m sure they’ll give him a wonderful welcome.

But obviously he’s employed by Town now and his allegiance is where he is managing. He’ll want to go there and give a good account of himself and his current team.

Paul had a long time there, playing something like 500 league games. Everybody will remember him and be saying ‘crickey, you’ve done well’. He’ll enjoy it and I’m sure his family will be there for it too. He’ll want to prove why everyone is talking about how well they’re doing.

Not just that, he will want us to get back to winning ways after a loss in the last league outing at Peterborough and the Checkatrade Trophy defeat against Walsall.

It’ll be interesting how he picks his side. He stated in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t happy with the Walsall performance.

I hope Jon Nolan will be fit to start after resting his sore hip. He brings the creativity and seems to be involved in everything going forward

He’ll be a miss if unavailable and it would be interesting to see who Paul would bring in, whether it’s Bryn Morris, Louis Dodds or Ebou Adams – players with different attributes that might be able to add different strengths.

The good thing is that Paul has options, he’s not just worrying about one player. You have Ben Godfrey and Abu Ogogo there as the nucleus and then it’s whoever comes in alongside them.

Town go to Bury next Tuesday and have to kick them while they’re down.

They are currently managerless, bottom and have lost at home in the FA Cup against Woking.

This spell can be a great opportunity to really move another step forward. A draw at Rotherham would be a good result and to follow that up with a win at Bury – putting them to the sword.