HAVING found an answer of sorts to his defensive worries at Middlesbrough, Neil Lennon’s next move could be an important one for Wanderers’ season.

Reinstating David Wheater at centre-half on Tuesday night for the suspended skipper Matt Mills was a straightforward decision for the Whites boss, who had precious few other options.

And while his side slipped to a narrow defeat, there was enough in Lennon’s post-match appraisal to suggest he will keep faith with the former Boro defender when Mills returns for the home visit of Brighton this weekend.

“Wheats had a great game,” enthused the Northern Irishman. “It was far more like him.

“We need that type of performance because we haven’t had that from our centre-halves recently and it’s great to see him coming back into some real form now.”

Lennon’s appraisal of Wheater’s defensive partner Dorian Dervite was less convincing, confessing that the Frenchman had been “okay in bits and pieces,” and so the smart money could be on Mills and Wheater playing alongside each other in central defence on Saturday afternoon.

It is a partnership which worked well on occasion last season, particularly in wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Watford, but one that is yet to produce a win this term.

The pair did feature in the win at Hillsborough last month, as part of a back three, and also finished the FA Cup game at Liverpool in impressive fashion, but few fans remain convinced that the two right-footed defenders have the right balance or pace between them to be an effective duo.

Mills has a point to prove on his return, having been publicly berated for his sending off at Nottingham Forest.

The defender is out of contract in the summer and suggested in an interview with The Bolton News a few weeks ago he wants to remain at the Macron Stadium.

But the 28-year-old recent dip in form has come at a bad time – and he might yet have to convince Lennon that an extended deal is the right move for the future.

Wheater has also got to prove he can handle regular football after such a long list of niggling injuries which have prevented a regular run in the side.

Before finding himself out of the side following the 4-3 defeat against Watford, the 28-year-old had made five consecutive starts for the first time in 12 months.

Tim Ream could also return on Saturday despite a steady performance from Dean Moxey at left-back against Boro.

The American defender looked in trouble after leaving the pitch last Saturday on a stretcher but thankfully his injury is not as bad as first feared, and Lennon revealed he will be in contention just seven days later.

Ream’s return could open the possibility of a return to a back three, although Lennon may feel his fingers have been burned on that front after shipping four at Rotherham and at home to Watford.

The manager's early success was built on a settled back four, albeit one with Josh Vela playing out of position.

Since then, almost all his defensive components have lost form, leaving Lennon searching for a system that works consistently.

“A back three worked against Liverpool and we kept a clean sheet at Anfield,” he said. “But then we conceded four at Rotherham. You can talk about formations all day long but whatever formation we’re conceding goals, and it has to stop.”