Derby County’s squad is brimming with quality players, and at the summit of that list is winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Derby County have put themselves in an excellent position to win promotion back to the Championship. Currently in second, four points above third place Bolton Wanderers, the Rams have been given a 73.3% chance of winning promotion this season.
The spine of Paul Warne‘s squad is one of, if not, the strongest in the division. Goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, centre-backs Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson, midfielder Ebou Adams and forward James Collins have all contributed to their chances of returning to the second tier.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
There is one player above all, however, who has almost single-handedly dragged Derby towards the brink of glory and that is winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Described by Warne as the “perfect” player, Mendez-Laing has broken all sorts of records this term, with his assist tally of 15 being the biggest the club has witnessed since records began 28 years ago.
Derby are a strong and difficult team to beat under Warne, but the £5k-a-week phenom has brought that X Factor to Pride Park and produced countless moments of brilliance.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing told he’s ‘too good’ for League One
There are a few players in Derby’s squad who should be playing at a higher level.
Cashin is the prime example, with the academy graduate very nearly signing for Brighton last summer before committing his future to the Rams.
Max Bird, a fellow academy graduate, is another who should be playing in the Championship and will fulfil that ambition when he joins Bristol City permanently in June.
Conor Hourihane, Collins and Nelson could also be seen as too good for this level but pundit Adrian Clarke has unsurprisingly picked out Mendez-Laing for that accolade.
Speaking on the What the EFL?! podcast, Clarke said: “Mendez-Laing who has been his partner up front is too good for League One really.”
Mendez-Laing can break another record this season
After reaching 15 assists in all competitions this term, the 31-year-old is eyeing up double figures for goals and assists.
Mendez-Laing is currently one away from reaching that landmark after scoring nine goals.
The last player to achieve that feat for Derby was striker Chris Martin who scored 15 and assisted 11 in the 2015/16 campaign.
With seven games left to play and the potential of playoffs – if the Rams don’t go up automatically – the electric winger will fancy his chances of scoring at least once and breaking another record.