Andy Butler discusses his style of leadership and how Doncaster Rovers have a surprise factor in their locker

But you won’t see club captain Andy Butler ranting and raving at his teammates for the sake of it.

Butler, 33, wore the skipper’s armband in the contrasting home games against Portsmouth and Walsall.

Team captain James Coppinger is expected to return to the starting line-up at Bury this weekend but Butler will continue to lead in the best way he sees fit.

“I do like communicating. I like to encourage players,” said centre back Butler.

“You can go about things in different ways but I’ve always been one to encourage.

“Occasionally you do have to give people a little bit of a blast but with the squad we’ve got we can take it, and a lot of them can give it back.

“As a group we have to learn that it’s not personal, it’s just a case of wanting to do the job as best we can.”

Butler’s partnership with Joe Wright has been one of the major plus points of a below par start to the season.

Following the return of Mathieu Baudry against Pompey, however, the Doncaster-born defender has found himself at the centre of a back three.

Rovers have switched between several formations this season and Butler says that flexibility is vital in the modern game.

“It gives us the unknown and it surprises teams,” he said.

“I think it surprised Portsmouth what we played. I think they expected us to play the diamond.

“It just shows you the good work that the gaffer, Strachs and all the staff at the training ground do with us.

“If you stick to one formation someone’s going to find you out one day.

“You’ve got to have a Plan B. It’s good that we’ve got Plan B, C, D, E, F.”

On Wright he added: “He’s a young lad and he’s done extremely well. I think he’s been one of the best players we’ve had this season.

“That’s credit to him for how hard he worked last year when he wasn’t in the squad.

“He did little bits and bobs with Strachs and the gaffer to improve his game and I think he’s shown with his performances what a good player he is and can be.”