Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Personal information
Full name Nathaniel Otis Mendez-Laing[1]
Date of birth (1992-04-15) 15 April 1992[1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current team
 Cardiff City
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2009 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Peterborough United (loan) 33 (5)
2011 → Sheffield United (loan) 8 (1)
2012–2015 Peterborough United 51 (4)
2012 → Portsmouth (loan) 8 (0)
2014 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 6 (0)
2015 → Cambridge United (loan) 11 (1)
2015–2017 Rochdale 71 (15)
2017– Cardiff City 41 (6)
National team
2008 England U16 2 (0)
2008 England U17 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:12, 25 August 2018 (UTC)

Nathaniel Otis Mendez-Laing (born 15 April 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League side Cardiff City. Born in Birmingham he began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, making his professional debut in 2009 at the age of nineteen. However, after loan spells with Peterborough United and Sheffield United, he left the club, joining Peterborough on a permanent deal in 2012.

He made over 50 appearances for Peterborough, spending time on loan with Portsmouth, Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United, before joining Rochdale where he made over 80 appearances during a two-year spell. In 2017, he joined Cardiff City where he helped the side win promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

Mendez-Laing has also represented England at under 16 and under 17 level.

Career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Born in Birmingham, West Midlands, Mendez-Laing is a product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy.[1] Having represented England at under-16 and under-17 level, he made his senior début on 25 August 2009 in a League Cup victory over Swindon Town and was named Man of the Match for his performance.[2][3] He subsequently signed his first professional contract with the club in March 2010.[4]

Mendez-Laing joined League One side Peterborough United on loan for the 2010–11 season on 1 July 2010.[5] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2010–11 season, starting a 3–0 victory over Bristol Rovers.[6] He made forty appearances in total, scoring five times, during the season as Peterborough made the play-offs, where they won promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt. During the close season it was confirmed that a fee had been agreed to permanently transfer Mendez-Laing to Peterborough, around £250,000.[7] However, the move collapsed when personal terms could not be agreed.[8]

Instead of move back to Peterborough, Mendez-Laing moved on loan to League One side Sheffield United in a deal to run until 3 January 2012,[9] making his début for the Blades a few days later, in the first found of the League Cup against Hartlepool United.[10] He played regularly until picking up an injury at the end of September which sidelined him for a number of weeks.[11] Having returned to his parent club for rehabilitation he then sustained another injury whilst warming up for his first game back at Bramall Lane which was to keep him out for the remainder of his loan spell, thus he returned to the Midlands having made eleven appearances and scoring one goal in his time at United.[12]

Peterborough United

In July 2012, Mendez-Laing revived his move to former loan club Peterborough United, a deal that he had turned down the previous summer. He signed a three-year contract after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee, believed to be £100,000.[13][14] He later commented on his departure from Wolves, stating that he chose to accept Peterborough's second offer as he "wanted to go and play" but believed he was "given the wrong guidance."[15] His Peterborough debut was delayed after he sustained a hamstring injury, which was expected to rule him out for between four and six weeks.[16] He returned from injury on 15 September 2012 and scored his first goal for Peterborough on his debut in a 5–2 away defeat to Burnley.[17] In November of that year Mendez-Laing was suspended and placed on the transfer list after a public-order offence in Peterborough town centre with teammates Gabriel Zakuani, Emile Sinclair and Tyrone Barnett,[18] with manager Darren Ferguson announcing that Mendez-Laing subsequently had no future at the club.[19]

On 15 November 2012, Mendez-Laing signed on a one-month loan for Portsmouth,[19] making his debut, on 17 November 2012, in a 1–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers.[20] After the match, Mendez-Laing spoke about his debut, saying Portsmouth could reap the benefits of reviving his career.[21] After making four appearances, Mendez-Laing's loan spell at Portsmouth was extended until the start of January.[22] After five further appearances however, Mendez-Laing returned to Peterborough.[23]

Following his return from Portsmouth, Mendez-Laing made an appearance for Peterborough as a substitute in a 2–1 loss against Nottingham Forest. Soon after, manager Darren Ferguson explained his apparent change of heart regarding Mendez-Laing, saying that he (Ferguson) had now forgiven him, commenting "I don't bear grudges. Mendez-Laing is back at the club and it's now up to me and the coaching staff to get the best out of him as a player. He clearly has ability, but he must also now knuckle down and do all he can to help this team."[24][25] His return saw him gain more playing time in the first team and he scored his second Peterborough goal, in a 5–1 win over Millwall on 19 February 2013.[26] He scored his third goal in the last game of the season, a 3–2 loss against Crystal Palace, that confirmed Peterboroug's relegation.[27]

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Mendez-Laing switched number shirt from 44 to 19.[28] However, at the start of the season, Mendez-Laing was left out for the first four matches at the start of the season and drew criticism from Ferguson over his fitness levels, commenting "Mendez didn’t come back to the club anywhere near fit enough."[29] His first appearance of the 2013–14 season came on 24 August 2013 where he came on as a substitute for Lee Tomlin in the 74th minute during a 5–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers.[30] His fitness concerns continued, resulting him being an unused substitute for four matches, although he scored a hat-trick for the club's reserve side in a 4–0 win over Thresham College.[31] After this, Mendez-Laing returned to the first team and scored his first league goal of the season, in a 1–0 win over Shrewsbury Town on 19 October 2013.[32]

On 30 January 2014, Mendez-Laing was sent out on loan to Shrewsbury Town on a short-term deal.[33] He made his Shrewsbury debut two days later, coming on as a substitute for Bahrudin Atajić in the 59th minute of a 1–1 draw against Brentford.[34] His loan spell at Shrewsbury was extended for another month despite suffering a slight hamstring injury that kept him out for a week.[35] However, he suffered another injury, resulting his loan spell with Shrewsbury coming to an end by the end of March.[36] After his return to Peterborough, Mendez-Laing returned to the first team and featured for the last three remaining games of the season, including a match against Shrewsbury Town, the team he played during the season, where he provided an assist for Josh McQuoid, who scored in a 4–2 win, resulting in Shrewsbury's relegation on 26 April 2014.[37]

In the 2014–15 season, Mendez-Laing received praise from his manager Ferguson who stated "I've got a responsibility to manage him and get the best out of him. We feel we're there with that."[38] His turnaround resulted in him featuring in the first team at the start of the season, providing an assist for Kenny McEvoy in a 3–2 win over Milton Keynes Dons on 16 August 2014.[39] However, he suffered a thigh injury that kept him out until October.[40] He made his first team return on 21 October 2014, coming on as a substitute for Ricardo Santos in the 74th minutes, in a 1–0 loss against Crewe Alexandra.[41] By the end of January, Mendez-Laing was told by the club that he could leave the club to find first team regular after he turned down two loan moves.[42]

On 18 February 2015, Mendez-Laing was loaned to League Two side Cambridge United for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.[43] He made an impact on his Cambridge debut when he scored his first goal for the club, though Cambridge United lost 6–2 to Portsmouth.[44] He went on to make twenty-two appearances for the club before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.[45] At the end of the 2014–15 season, he was released by Peterborough after spending three years there.[46]

Rochdale

On 27 August 2015, Mendez-Laing joined League One side Rochdale on a one-year deal,[47] making his debut as a substitute in place of Matty Lund during a 1–0 defeat to Burton Albion on 12 September 2015.[48] Following his arrival, Rochdale manager Keith Hill stated his belief that he could "revive" Mendez-Laings's career, commenting "I personally don’t think he has ever been fit enough to maintain and showcase his ability for 90 minutes."[49] However, he did not make his first league start until October 2015, when mounting injuries saw him named in the starting line-up for a 3–2 defeat to Sheffield United.[50] A month later, Mendez-Laing scored his first goals for the club with a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Swindon Town in the second round of the FA Cup.[51] At the end of the season, Rochdale activated their one-year extension option on his contract to extend his stay at the club.[52]

In his second season with Rochdale, Mendez-Laing reached double figures for both goals and assists, including scoring six goals in the final two months of the season.[53]

Cardiff City

On 30 May 2017, Mendez-Laing agreed to join Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer after turning down a new contract at Rochdale.[54][55] He had been set to join a rival Championship club, with a deal due to be concluded later the same day, but was convinced to move by Cardiff manager Neil Warnock.[56] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2017–18 season during a 1–0 victory over Burton Albion, as a substitute in place of Bruno Ecuele Manga.[57] He scored his first goal for the Bluebirds on 8 August, scoring in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.[58] Mendez-Laing was named August Player of the Month, following a further four goals, helping Cardiff to win their opening five league matches for the first time in their history.[59] However, after a dip in form later in the season coupled with a month out through injury after being substituted within the first ten minutes of a Severnside derby,[53] Cardiff manager Neil Warnock revealed that Mendez-Laing had been wrongly prescribed medication for his asthma that had affected his performances.[60] In his first season with Cardiff, he made 42 appearances in all competitions, helping the side win promotion to the Premier League after finishing the season as runners-up.[61]

Mendez-Laing was awarded a contract extension until 2021 during the summer.[62] He made his first career appearance in the Premier League on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, starting in a 2–0 defeat to Bournemouth.[63] Two games later, he suffered a knee injury following a collision with Huddersfield Town goalkeeper, Ben Hamer, which ruled him out for up to three months.[64]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 August 2018[65]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2009–10[66] Premier League 000010—10
Peterborough United (loan) 2010–11[67] League One 33530202[lower-alpha 1]0405
Sheffield United (loan) 2011–12[68] League One 8100102[lower-alpha 2]0111
Peterborough United 2012–13[69] Championship 2130000—213
2013–14[70] League One 16121203[lower-alpha 2]1233
2014–15[71] 140101000160
Peterborough United total 514313031606
Portsmouth (loan) 2012–13[69] League One 800000—80
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2013–14[70] League One 60———60
Cambridge United (loan) 2014–15[71] League Two 111000000111
Rochdale 2015–16[72] League One 31713002[lower-alpha 2]03610
2016–17[73] 39841214[lower-alpha 3]04910
Rochdale total 70155421608320
Cardiff City 2017–18[74] Championship 386202100427
2018–19[75] Premier League 3000000030
Cardiff City total 416202100457
Career Total 2283213511213126540
  1. ↑ One appearance in the Football League Trophy and one in the League One play-offs
  2. 1 2 3 Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Personal life

On 6 February 2014, while at loan at Shrewsbury Town, Mendez-Laing was in court for driving a car without a licence and no insurance, that occurred on 10 July 2013.[76] As a result, Mendez-Laing was fined a total of £900, ordered to pay costs of £70 and a surcharge of £60, as well as, being given eight penalty points on his licence and disqualified from driving for six weeks.[77]

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 284. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "McCarthy impressed by Mendez-Laing in Wolves début against Swindon". Birmingham Mail. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Matt Kendrick (29 August 2009). "Wolves: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing pledges not to get carried away after applause". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Three Academy scholars to turn professional". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 27 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  5. ↑ "Peterborough United sign Wolves' Mendez-Laing on loan". BBC Sport. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Peterborough United 3–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Peterborough United's Mendez-Laing bid accepted". BBC Sport. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Mendez-Laing Posh move off". Sky Sports. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Sheffield United sign Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on loan". BBC Sport. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Blades late penalties steal the show". The Sheffield Star. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "Sheffield Utd forced to send Nathaniel Mendez-Laing back to Wolves". Tribal Football. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  12. ↑ "Further blow for Mendez-Laing". Yahoo Sports. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  13. ↑ "Mendez-Laing makes Peterborough United move". BBC Sport. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Winger Mendez-Laing is first out of the exit at Molineux". Express & Star. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: I could still be playing for Wolves – Mendez-Laing". BBC Sport. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Mendez-Laing To Miss Start of Season". Peterborough United F.C. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Burnley 5–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: Portsmouth sign Peterborough winger". BBC Sport. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: Portsmouth sign Peterborough winger". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  20. ↑ Neil Allen (17 November 2012). "Donny down Pompey to make it six defeats on the trot". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  21. ↑ Neil Allen (19 November 2012). "Mendez-Laing hoping fresh start can inspire Pompey". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Portsmouth extend Nathaniel Mendez-Laing loan period". BBC Sport. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  23. ↑ Neil Allen (8 January 2013). "All change as five depart Blues". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  24. ↑ Dominic Booth (13 August 2017). "The rise of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: How Cardiff City's new hero turned his career around and will get better and better". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Fergie doesn't begrudge Mendez a second chance". Peterborough Today. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "Millwall 1–5 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  27. ↑ "Championship: Peterborough down after losing 3–2 at Crystal Palace". Sky Sports. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  28. ↑ "Squad Numbers Confirmed". Peterborough United F.C. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  29. ↑ Alan Swann (8 August 2013). "Mendez-Laing paying the price for summer fitness issues". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Tranmere Rovers 0 – 5 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Nat's hat-trick teaches students a lesson". Peterborough Today. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  32. ↑ "Peterborough United 1 – 0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  33. ↑ "Town sign Nathaniel Mendez-Laing". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 1 – 1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing Extended". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 28 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Mike Jackson hoping for Shrewsbury Town fitness boost". Shropshire Star. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 2–4 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Peterborough United: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 'mistakes' in past". BBC Sport. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  39. ↑ "Peterborough 3–2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "Colchester v Posh: Match Preview". Peterborough United F.C. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Crewe 1 – 0 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  42. ↑ Alan Swann (3 February 2015). "Deadline Day: Bad payers to blame for no Posh signings, but Barnett has finally left". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "U's loan Mendez-Laing". Cambridge United F.C. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015.
  44. ↑ "Cambridge United 2 – 6 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "U's Retained List Confirmed". Cambridge United F.C. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  46. ↑ "The Retained List..." Peterborough United F.C. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  47. ↑ "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing Signs For Rochdale". Rochdale A.F.C. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  48. ↑ "Burton Albion 1–0 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  49. ↑ "Hill pleased to recruit Nathaniel Mendez-Laing". Rochdale A.F.C. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  50. ↑ Simon Rowbotham (14 October 2015). "No need to panic yet, says Rochdale manager Keith Hill". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  51. ↑ "Rochdale 3–1 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  52. ↑ "Calvin Andrew: Rochdale striker stays as Grant Holt among eight to exit". BBC Sport. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  53. 1 2 Scott Johnson (1 March 2018). "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's dip in form explained, and how he can recapture early promise to drive Cardiff City's Premier League push". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  54. ↑ "City sign Etheridge and Mendez-Laing". Cardiff City F.C. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  55. ↑ Aaron Mason (31 May 2017). "Cardiff City sign ex Cambridge United loanee". Cambridge News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  56. ↑ Chris Wathan (9 August 2017). "Why Nathaniel Mendez-Laing could follow in Kenneth Zohore's footsteps of being Cardiff City's rough diamond". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  57. ↑ "Burton Albion 0–1 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  58. ↑ "EFL Cup: Cardiff City 2–1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  59. ↑ "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing wins Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month Award!". Cardiff City F.C. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  60. ↑ Ian Mitchelmore (12 January 2018). "The unusual reason behind Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's poor form as Warnock delivers major Cardiff City injury update". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  61. ↑ Dominic Booth (14 June 2018). "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to be offered improved Cardiff City contract". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  62. ↑ "New Bluebirds Contracts". Cardiff City F.C. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  63. ↑ Dafydd Pritchard (11 August 2018). "Bournemouth 2–0 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  64. ↑ Dafydd Pritchard (28 August 2018). "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: Cardiff City winger facing three months out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  65. ↑ "Nathaniel Mendez-Laing". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  69. 1 2 "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  70. 1 2 "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  71. 1 2 "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  74. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  75. ↑ "Games played by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  76. ↑ Ken Mcerlain (6 February 2014). "Posh star waits for fate after driving crimes". Peterborough Today. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  77. ↑ "Court: Posh star in road ban after driving crimes". Peterborough Today. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  78. ↑ "Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month: Cardiff City's Nathaniel Mendez-Laing takes August honour". EFL. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
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