Derby County winger labelled "massively underwhelming" | OneFootball

Football League World's Rams Fan Pundit has named Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as the club's most underwhelming player this season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Derby County's 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion was capped off by a sensational Nathaniel Mendez-Laing goal on Easter Monday, handing both the player and team great confidence heading into the final two games of the season.

It's been a disappointing campaign for the winger, but he proved against the Baggies that he still has the quality to make an impact when needed in big moments.

However, the Rams have been much better in their 5-3-2 formation in the last few weeks, with Liam Thompson, Ebou Adams and Harrison Armstrong forming a solid base behind Jerry Yates and Marcus Harness.

Hull City await Derby this weekend, and supporters will be hoping to see this system used once again by John Eustace, with his team benefiting from the solidity of it, while they have also been able to form attacks that incorporate nearly everyone on the pitch.

Verdict made on Derby's most underwhelming player this season

Eustace's arrival has coincided with an upturn in form for the Rams, and it has been his coaching that has allowed that to happen. However, as with any team at the bottom of the table, there have been some who have struggled more than others.

Attacking-wise, the East Midlands outfit have not been good enough over the course of the entire season, and more would have been expected of their wingers in particular.

Football League World has asked their Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, which player he believes has been the most underwhelming in 2024/25.

He told FLW: "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, for me, is the one that's majorly underachieved this season compared to last season. He had 25 goal contributions over the course of last season, and he was one of the main reasons we got promoted.

"But this season his form has been dire. Yes, it's a step-up and there's always been question marks over his ability to be able in the Championship, but I thought off the back of last season he'd come in and be really confident and have a big impact on the team."

Shaun continued: "But I think he's got three goals and a few assists this season and it's just not good enough. He was given the armband as well, so I don't know if that had an impact on his form, but his season has been massively underwhelming and even if we do go down, I do think we need to start looking in a different direction.

"Both him and Kayden Jackson have just not been good enough this season. So, I'd say Mendez-Laing is the one who has majorly underachieved."

Mendez-Laing's future could be up for debate this summer

The winger will enter the final year of his contract in the summer, and after a tough season, Eustace will have to decide as to whether he keeps hold of the Guatemala international or moves him on.

Mendez-Laing was influential in League One for the Rams, but he has not been able to capture that form since promotion and he looks like a different player to the one that was easily able to glide down the wing and beat a defender.

However, he showed against West Brom that he still has the class to perform on his day, and he fought through the pain barrier to fire in for Derby after suffering a fractured eye socket against Luton Town just three days earlier.

Nevertheless, he is now 33 and his ability to perform at this level will become more and more limited as the months go by, which may leave Eustace with the unfortunate task of having to let him go if he finds a suitable replacement.