Rochdale to the big boys, it’s a dream
NATHANIEL MendezLaing cannot wait to complete his rags-toriches football story.
After five loan moves and two free transfers to clubs including Shrewsbury and Cambridge, he now plans to star in the Premier League with top-flight new boys Cardiff.
Mendez-Laing, 26, became Neil Warnock’s latest bargain when he joined the Bluebirds from League One Rochdale this time last year and his six goals helped the side to promotion.
He was handed a two-year deal for his efforts and now wants to continue his rapid rise against the best teams in the country this term.
“As a little boy it was always my dream to play in the Premier League and I am very excited by the prospect of getting that opportunity,” said Mendez-Laing.
“It has been a quick rise for me and it still catches me at times, but it has happened and I have grabbed my opportunity with both hands.
“I’ve thought about playing in the Premier League a lot over the summer, but it has sunk in now. My career just
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shows what anyone can do, even players down in the lower leagues.
“Things can change very quickly and there is a lot of talent throughout the leagues.
“You just have to play consistently when you are down there and when you get your chance, you’ve got to take it.”
An England Under-16 and Under-17 cap, Mendez-Laing’s football journey started at Wolves and he played in the same age-group international side as Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey.
Peterborough paid £100,000 for the tricky winger in 2012, but loan spells at Portsmouth, Shrewsbury and Cambridge followed before he moved to Rochdale on a free transfer.
At that stage MendezLaing’s Premier League dream looked a long way away, but Warnock took a punt, bringing him to Cardiff without having to pay a penny. The gamble has paid off for both manager and player.
Mendez-Laing loves to take on defenders and his dribbling ability enabled him to give former England and Chelsea defender John Terry the runaround in a 3-0 home win over Aston Villa last season.
“The new season is nearly here now and the next thing for me is being fit enough to get into the starting team,” he said.
“Bobby Reid and Josh Murphy have come in and both are very sharp and very intelligent.
“They will add a lot to the team and there is healthy competition all over the place. With the new additions it means we are all going to have to raise our game.”
Cardiff are odds-on favourites to drop straight back into the Championship but MendezLaing says Warnock’s men will be ready to fire when the competitive action starts.
“The main thing in pre-season is fitness and getting the minutes under your belt. We had a tough week in Cornwall, trained very hard and got a few games,” he said.
“The Premier League is a tougher league than last year and we know we’ve got to put a few extra miles into the tank.
“We know what the run-in is going to be like and we are ready for that.”
We are all going to have to raise our game