Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s storming season earned Derby County promotion back to the Championship and his latest award recognises his talent.
Paul Warne has just led Derby County back to the Championship at the second time of asking.
Under the ownership of David Clowes, the Rams are looking up rather than down after finishing second in League One, claiming promotion with a 2-0 win over Carlisle United.
It’s a campaign that has seen several gain recognition, including talented centre-back Eiran Cashin, Irish sharpshooter James Collins and explosive forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
The latter of that trio was arguably Derby’s most important player, having watched him plunder a league-high nine goals and 16 assists in League One, which saw him break a 28-year club record in the process.
Warne previously described Mendez-Laing as the perfect player to manage, with the 32-year-old rewarding the manager’s belief by producing incredible numbers.
An outstanding campaign at Pride Park saw him listed in the League One Team of the Season, but that isn’t the only accolade he’s claimed.
Derby County teammates react to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s latest award
Mendez-Laing has been named the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year in League One, deservedly picking up another individual award for his stunning performances.
The former Cardiff City winger saw off strong competition for the award, including former Rams striker Chris Martin, Portsmouth duo Colby Bishop and Marlon Pack, Harrison Burrows of Peterborough United, Barnsley’s Devante Cole, Charlton Athletic’s Alfie May and Josh Sheehan of Bolton Wanderers.
Derby stars and other former players were delighted to see Mendez-Laing receive further recognition for his display, with several – including Cashin, Ebou Adams and Dwight Gayle – reacting to the news via Instagram.
Cashin wrote: “Wow some player. Congrats bud!!”
Derby target Adams said: “Only right”
While departing striker Gayle added fire emojis.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is ready for the Championship
Warne will need to bolster multiple areas of his squad, particularly at striker, to keep Derby in the Championship.
However, one area he doesn’t need to upgrade is on the flank, with Mendez-Laing positioning himself ready to take the second tier by storm.
During his time at Cardiff City, Middlesborough and Sheffield Wednesday the jet-heeled winger accumulated 13 goals and 14 assists in 95 appearances.
Mendez-Laing has just produced a record-breaking campaign in the third tier, so upon stepping up a league, he’s in the form of his life and Warne will be relying on him to produce the goods.
The powerful forward possesses the pace, power and technical attributes to trouble most Championship defences and given the Rams struggled to score goals last term, they’ll need to add better quality players around him to avoid that scenario playing out once more.
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