Former Derby County star Shaun Barker has said that Paul Warne should ‘be careful’ over the fitness of star winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, after he starred once again on the weekend.
The Rams claimed a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon, with an own goal from Jack Hunt giving Derby the lead midway through the second half.
Former Derby striker Chris Martin then levelled for the away side in the 87th minute, who looked to have stolen a point for the Gas in the dying minutes.
But in-form winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing stepped up to score just two minutes later to give the Rams all three points, with the result pushing them into the play-off places.
Barker sends warning to Warne
Speaking on Rams TV, Barker said that one of Warne’s priorities needs to be keeping Mendez-Laing fit, who is in inspired form at the moment.
“He is a player we need to keep fit.
“He is a player we have to be careful with at times over the course of the season because he is a player that uses his athleticism and his physicality to dominate defenders and as soon as it starts tipping the balance and he looks tired and he looks fatigued, he looks like a different player.
“I think Paul rested him maybe six or seven weeks ago and actually coming back from that, the game where he was dropped and rested and he came back the following week is where he picked up his form.
“So there might be a few moments where the manager has to be careful, but when he is playing and when he is on song, he can be unstoppable.”
Warne needs to be craeful with Mendez-Laing
Mendez-Laing has been Derby’s best player recently.
The Guatemala international has now scored five goals in his last six games, carrying Derby through some games recently.
Barker is right though in saying that Warne needs to make sure his fitness is monitored.
He came off with a knock in the game against Barnsley just before the international break, but the break gave him a chance to regain his fitness.
But with no break now until March, Warne may not get so lucky next time.