Paul Warne has finally clarified who Derby County’s captain is for the 2024/25 season, making an Arsenal comparison to illustrate his point.
Derby County won promotion back to the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
The Rams finished second in the division and their promotion charge was led on the field by Conor Hourihane.
The 33-year-old played 47 times for Derby last season and was their captain for the majority of those fixtures.
However, Hourihane left the club on a free transfer in July and is back plying his trade in League One with Barnsley.
This, of course, meant the Rams would need a new captain for the 2024/25 season.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing joined Derby from Sheffield Wednesday on a free in 2022 and has now stepped up in Hourihane’s absence this term.
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Paul Warne clarifies Derby County captaincy situation
Mendez-Laing has started all five of the club’s Championship fixtures so far this season.
He provided two assists when Derby lost 4-2 versus Blackburn Rovers and has captained the side in every league game of 2024/25.
This led to speculation that the 32-year-old has officially replaced Hourihane as the Derbyshire side’s captain.
However, speaking to the media pre-Sheffield United, as per Derbyshire Live, Paul Warne clarified that Mendez-Laing was not voted to be captain by his teammates nor has the Derby boss nominated him.
Warne added that he loves the way the winger players, making a comparison to Premier League outfit Arsenal and what Mikel Arteta has his wide players do.
He said: “I haven’t done a player vote and I haven’t nominated him (Mendez-Laing) as captain. In the games we have played so far, I’ve let him be captain so as long as I see that level of performance and attitude off the pitch. If he’s starting, he’ll start as captain.
“They’re all leaders in different ways. But I love the way Nat’s played for me since I’ve been here. He’ll probably tell you this but we encourage him to do a lot out of possession, which no winger wants to do.
“But you only have to look at Arsenal to see how hard their wingers work now. Those days of just standing up there and picking your nose until the ball comes to you are gone. I like his attitude in training. I love how hard he works off the pitch. They’re the things that I like to have and I like how proud he is to lead the team out.
“I know that sounds a bit crazy, but I like the boost it gives him when he leads the boys out.”
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Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will be key to Derby County survival bid
Mendez-Laing has been backed to be crucial in Derby’s survival bid this season and the player will need to step up if the Rams are to stay in the Championship.
Warne’s men have so far picked up nine points from a possible 15, leaving them eighth in the Championship table.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 6 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 7 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | DerbyDerby | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 9 |  LeedsLeeds | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
However, while things have started fairly well, a tough run of games now awaits the club and Mendez-Laing will need to step up to guide his side through it.
Derby face Sheffield United on Saturday, with the Blades one of the few teams still undefeated across the EFL this term.
David Ozoh is out injured for between five to six weeks and will miss out versus the Blades.
After Sheffield United, Derby must face the likes of Sunderland, Norwich City and Millwall, with a lot of pressure now on Mendez-Laing in his new role as club captain.