3/1 To Win
Derby County forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been nominated for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Season Award.
The 31-year-old, who can play a variety of attacking positions, has been shortlisted for the award by the EFL after a superb campaign to date for Head Coach Paul Warne’s side.
Mendez-Laing has weighed in with an impressive return of eight goals and 16 assists in League One this season, alongside a further goal and two more assists in cup competitions.
That has taken his total up to nine goals and 18 assists from 46 appearances in all competitions in a Derby shirt this term.
Mendez-Laing has also worn the captain’s armband on a handful of occasions in recent weeks, further highlighting his influence and leadership skills.
The Guatemala international signed a new deal with Derby until 2026 earlier this year and has improved his numbers significantly this season.
He made 51 appearances, scored eight times and chipped in with 11 assists last term after joining the Rams as a free agent in July 2022.
The attacker is closing in on 100 outings for the Rams and has already registered more appearances for the club than any other in his career.
Mendez-Laing is up against Marlon Pack of Portsmouth and Peterborough United’s Harrison Burrows for the League One Player of the Season Award, which is sponsored by Sky Bet.
The winners will be announced at the EFL’s annual ceremony in London on Sunday 14th April 2024.
Discussing his time with Derby, Mendez-Laing said: “It is the most appearances I've had for a club at this point in my career. It's a nice feeling, I feel at home.
“From all the staff at Moor Farm Training Ground to Pride Park Stadium, it's somewhere I've really settled and enjoyed my time so far.”
On his numbers this season, he added: “I've got to give credit to my team-mates, first and foremost, and the coaches as well.
“I get a bit more freedom, whether that's drifting inside or staying out wide. I've played in various positions and I've got that confidence that when I'm in the final third to just go and do what I do. If it doesn't come off, then I know that's fine. We work incredibly hard to get the ball back if we lose it and as long as we're doing that, I feel comfortable to go out there and try things.”
