Maturing talent is producing his best
The Football League Paper|March 10, 2024
THE idea of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing acting as a mentor for young players would until recently have seemed ludicrous.
Chris Dunlavy
Maturing talent is producing his best

He’s been rapped for driving without a licence. Sacked by Cardiff after a random drugs test found traces of cocaine. Criticised by Peterborough for being overweight.

Yet as he enters the latter stages of his career at Derby, the 31-year-old appears to have consigned those problems to the past.

“Nat’s a great character off the pitch,” said Rams defender Curtis Nelson in December. “He helps keep morale high and he’s a good craic but he cares a lot.

“He always asks how people are and gives it that personal touch. He looks after the young lads as well. He keeps an eye on Kane Wilson and they are in a car school together. It’s really good to see. He may not be the loudest on the pitch, but there are lots of good things he does off it.”

And on it, too. With Mendez-Laing’s new-found maturity has come arguably the most productive spell of his career.

Ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, nobody in League One had directly contributed to more goals than the Birmingham-born wideman, whose haul of nine goals and 17 assists in all competitions is already a career-best return.

Those figures are a continuation of the form Mendez-Laing showed after joining from Sheffield Wednesday last season, culminating in a first-ever call to the Guatemalan national side, for whom he qualifies through his late grandmother. He has since won eight caps.

Esta historia es de la edición March 10, 2024 de The Football League Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición March 10, 2024 de The Football League Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPERVer todo
CLASSY CURTIS GETS HIS REWARD
The Football League Paper

CLASSY CURTIS GETS HIS REWARD

DERBY County have tied influential centre-back Curtis Nelson down to a new contract that will keep him at Pride Park until 2026.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
STATS ALL RIGHT FOR STUDIOUS MK BOSS SCOTT
The Football League Paper

STATS ALL RIGHT FOR STUDIOUS MK BOSS SCOTT

MK Dons boss Scott Lindsey has highlighted the importance of statistics following his side's recent good form.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
SMITH'S FRATTON STUNNER IS TOPS!
The Football League Paper

SMITH'S FRATTON STUNNER IS TOPS!

MICHAEL Smith's stunning strike for Sheffield Wednesday against Portsmouth has won him the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for October - but he admitted it could have gone 'over the stand'!

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
RED DRAGONS SUFER TRIPLE INJURY SETBACK
The Football League Paper

RED DRAGONS SUFER TRIPLE INJURY SETBACK

WREXHAM'S pursuit of a historic promotion from League One has been hit by a triple injury blow.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
SMART GUY LAUNCHES AI PLAN TO AID CLUBS
The Football League Paper

SMART GUY LAUNCHES AI PLAN TO AID CLUBS

FORMER Rotherham, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday defender Guy Branston has launched a new AI venture that he says will revolutionise the way clubs engage with their fans.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
STRIKER BISHOP JUST SO GLAD TO BE BACK
The Football League Paper

STRIKER BISHOP JUST SO GLAD TO BE BACK

COLBY Bishop has expressed his delight at making an emotional goalscoring return for Portsmouth following open heart surgery this summer.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
HUNGRY JAMIE'S IN GOAL GROOVE
The Football League Paper

HUNGRY JAMIE'S IN GOAL GROOVE

Prize winner is followed by Cup heroics

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
TASTY TERRIERS TAKE A BITE OUT OF UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS
The Football League Paper

TASTY TERRIERS TAKE A BITE OUT OF UNITED'S YOUNG GUNS

HUDDERSFIELD Town booked their place in the last 32 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in style with a thumping 4-1 home win against Manchester United U21s.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 17, 2024
KENNY RECEIVES PRAISE OF BOSS BONNER
The Football League Paper

KENNY RECEIVES PRAISE OF BOSS BONNER

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Bonner says he will miss leaning on the experience of \"brilliant\" mentor Kenny Jackett.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024
WEAVER HAPPY TO GIVE ACE ENO HIS SHOT
The Football League Paper

WEAVER HAPPY TO GIVE ACE ENO HIS SHOT

HARROGATE Town boss Simon Weaver is hoping new striker Eno Nto can solve the Sulphurites' woes in front of goal.

time-read
1 min  |
November 17, 2024