Warnock breathing easier over winger’s struggles
NEIL Warnock has revealed that Cardiff City winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been receiving the wrong medication for an asthmatic problem for the last six weeks.
The wideman enjoyed a blistering start to life with the Bluebirds, scoring five goals in all competitions as he scooped the Championship Player of the Month award for August.
But the former Rochdale man has failed to score a goal since the opening month of the campaign, and the 25-year-old struggled over the festive period as the Bluebirds suffered four consecutive Championship defeats.
And Warnock admitted ahead of his side’s clash with Chris Coleman’s Sunderland at Cardiff City Stadium that the loan addition of Yanic Wildschut from Norwich City will help ease the burden on Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett.
Discussing the signing of Wildschut, the Yorkshireman said: “It’s got to help.
“I don’t think you can fault Junior with his contributions. Mendez has hit a little bit of a brick wall over the few
games but we’ve just found out he’s been on the wrong medication for an asthmatic problem for six weeks, so that could have something to do with it.
“I had a chat with him during the game last week and he was struggling. He’s had tests and it’s shown he should change medication which he should have been on the last few months and hopefully that will sort it out as he’s looked bright this week, back to his old self.
“Hopefully that’s been it. I’d noticed his lungs couldn’t do what he was doing earlier in the season, then I saw at half-time against Mansfield and he looked older than me wheezing away in the corner of the dressing room.
“That’s when I had a chat with him and asked if he was okay inhaling and that. He said he was struggling and we got him to see the doctor. They did a few tests and the doctor said they should have looked at it a couple of months ago because earlier in season it was the right thing but in the colder months it should have been something else. Something as simple as that. Hopefully we’ve found the answer.”
Meanwhile, Craig Bryson and Kadeem Harris are both in training although they are unlikely to feature against basement boys Sunderland today.
But Warnock has received a major boost ahead of his side’s clash with the Black Cats, with the veteran boss confirming that Joe Ralls, Sol Bamba and Joe Bennett are all available to line up against Coleman’s side.
“I’d like to say injuries are improving but I don’t think it’s much different to last week,” added Warnock.
“The good thing is the illness has gone out of the camp, Rallsy, Bamba and Bennett – who was a bit below last week even though he played – re all firing again so at least we have a few more options.”