STEPHEN Warnock is Rovers’ boss Paul Ince’s biggest selection headache as he continues to sacrifice his international dreams for the club cause.

The England left-back again showed in Wednesday night’s Villa Park defeat he can more than hold his own against some of the nations top midfielders – posing Ince a real dilemma.

Since arriving at Ewood from Liverpool, Warnock’s defensive displays have earned him international recognition but Ince admits his recent transformation has left him with a tough decision.

A head injury picked up at Villa Park leave him a slight concern for Saturday’s trip to The Hawthorns, but a fit Warnock would leave Ince with another big decision.

The Rovers boss said: “He is the headache as far as I am concerned. He was my left back but he loves it in midfield, you can see the way he plays.

“He loves it in there. It is a massive headache because Martin Olsson is inexperienced, still young, still learning the game and Stevie is probably the only left back I have really got.

“He is playing so well in midfield, taking up someone’s position, and then I haven’t got a left back."

Warnock himself insists he is relishing his new role and Ince reveals he has already stated he is ready to forget his England hopes for the good of Rovers.

A goal-scoring display in Wednesday's cruel 3-2 defeat, a game in which he over-shadowed England's Gareth Barry, only strengthened the call to keep him further forward despite a plethora of other midfield options.

"It is a tricky one," said Ince. "I spoke to Stevie and told him he is not going to play in midfield all the time.

"Listen, he will play left back because that is his position. But that is only his position at Blackburn.

"At Liverpool he played midfield, when he was at Coventry he played left midfield.

"So he is not just a left back, he has just been playing that position very very well.

"His main priority is Blackburn Rovers football club and if he plays well in midfield and enjoys it there is no reason why he can't keep playing there.

"I'm not saying he is not bothered about England but you have Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge so he has a long, long way to go before he passes those two.

"I think he is just as good as Wayne Bridge but Stephen wants to concentrate on Blackburn, as we all do, and he has played well."

Ince's number two Ray Mathias echoed Ince's sentiments after watching him produce another dynamic display in the Midlands.

The expected return of Australian Vince Grella at West Brom on Saturday and the impressive display of Keith Andrews alongside Warnock on Wednesday complicate matters further, but taking him out of midfield would be a brave call Mathias said: "He is a very hard lad and a very determined player. He was the driving force in the midfield of the park again.

"He has been showing superb form. Unfortunately he took a knock on his head but hopefully that won't stop him from playing Saturday.

"In the games he has been playing there he has looked the best midfielder and we have played against some good players.

"It just shows you it could be his position. Sometimes you find a player doing this."