Rowett explains 'unpopular' Winks selection and why he escaped disciplinary

Rowett started Winks on Friday night despite knowing it would be an unpopular decision among supporters.

Winks was filmed in an argument with fans outside Fratton Park after City’s defeat to Portsmouth a week ago, and the crowd have since turned on him.

He was booed prior to his substitute outing on Tuesday night as City were relegated, and was then jeered with every touch for at least the first half of Friday’s 1-1 draw with Millwall.

Explaining the decision behind Winks’ selection, Rowett said that he was the only player available for his position at the base of midfield, with Jordan James not fully fit and with Joe Aribo missing.

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However, he did suggest that he may have dealt with Winks more harshly if he was contracted to be City’s manager long term, rather than just overseeing the group until the end of the campaign.

In midweek, Rowett had said Winks should not have reacted the way he did at Fratton Park but did add that the footage did not show the whole story.

Speaking after Friday’s draw with Millwall, Rowett said: “The challenge we had tonight is that he’s our only number six you can play through the lines with and you can keep possession with.

“My job is to pick the strongest team I had available from a football perspective. I understand it wasn’t a popular choice. Bringing him on the other day wasn’t necessarily that. But for the league, I have to pick the best team available.

“If I’m here long term, certain cultural things wouldn’t happen anyway. But when you need to finish the season, you have to make those decisions from a footballing perspective.”

Asked what those certain cultural things were, Rowett replied: “I’m here until the end of the season. I’m not going to start disciplining a player when I’m not going to be his manager necessarily next season.

“It’s a little more tricky to act on certain things. I’m not saying in Winksy’s situation but in lots of different situations. That’s the easiest way to put it.”

Winks has one year remaining on his contract at City, with a clause extending his deal by a year following the club’s promotion out of the Championship in 2024.

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