Derby County have benefitted from shared Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday issue: View | OneFootball

Derby County have been caused some real problems by Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday over the years, for very different reasons.

Boro owner Steve Gibson famously tried to sue Derby when they were in massive financial trouble under their former owner Mel Morris.

Gibson tried to take Derby to court, claiming that Derby’s overspending denied Boro a place in the Championship play-offs in 2019. Derby finished in sixth that year, one place above Boro.

Wednesday also denied Derby a place in the League One play-offs last season, with the Owls’ 1-0 win over the Rams allowing Peterborough United into the play-offs ahead of them.

But one thing that Derby have got the benefit of that both Boro and Wednesday could not get going, was that of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Mendez-Laing failed at Boro and Wednesday

Mendez-Laing first joined Middlesbrough in February 2021, reuniting with his former manager Neil Warnock, who he had previously worked with at Cardiff City.

His spell in the north east did not go to plan though. He would go on to make just nine appearances for Boro, scoring once. He was then released at the end of the season.

After spending the whole summer of 2021 without a club, Mendez-Laing then joined Sheffield Wednesday in November 2021, having spent time on trial at the club.

Initially joining on a deal until January, he did well enough to earn a contract extension until the end of the season.

Despite Wednesday making the League One play-offs, Mendez-Laing would end up being a bit-part player. He would go on to start just 12 games, scoring twice and assisting two more.

It was then confirmed in June 2022 that he had rejected a new contract from Wednesday, allowing him to move on to pastures new.

Derby now getting the best out of him

The Guatemala international would then join Derby County, and he has been arguably their best signing in the David Clowes era.

In his first season at Pride Park, Mendez-Laing would go on to score seven goals and grab eight assists in League One as the Rams missed out on a place in the top six.

But now in his second season, the 31-year-old is proving himself to be one of the best players in the division.

After 35 games in League One, he has eight goals and 14 assists, with no player contributing to more goals in the league than him.

Derby boss Paul Warne is really getting the best out of him.

Primarily playing him on the right wing, he has allowed Mendez-Laing to express himself, using his pace and brilliant dribbling ability to fashion a lot of chances for himself and others.

After missing out on the top six last season, the Rams are currently going one better and are looking at a place in the automatic promotion spots.

They are currently sitting in second place in the third tier, but are only ahead of Bolton Wanderers in third on goal difference.

If Derby do get promoted though, regardless of whether that is automatically or through the play-offs, Mendez-Laing will be a big reason why they do.