Derby County head coach Liam Rosenior will make a late decision on the availability of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing vs Peterborough after being left out of the midweek squad due to family reasons.
The summer signing has started all five of the Rams’ league games so far this season, scoring his first goal for the club in the 2-1 win over
Barnsley earlier this month. He was however absent from the squad for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
That’s something I’m going to look at,” Rosenior said. “He’s had an issue in terms of his family which is very sad for him. We as a club will support him in terms of that, myself and the players as well.
He may be available, he may not be available. I just want to make sure, the most important thing is that he’s feeling ok in himself.
Speaking ahead of the game against Mendez-Laing’s former club Peterborough, Rosenior explained that family reasons were behind his absence, with the winger also a doubt for the weekend’s clash.
We’ve all been in positions where we’ve had things happen in our family that’s sad, we lose people in our lives. As a club we’ll support him and I’ll do anything I can to get him back as quickly as possible with the right frame of mind.”
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Two players who definitely won’t be available are James Chester and Curtis Davies. Chester is yet to make an appearance this season, while Davies has missed the last five games through injury.
While they won’t play a part on Saturday, Rosenior confirmed that they are closing in on returns. Something that will come as a big boost to the squad.
“They won’t be ready for Saturday, but they’re getting closer and we’re going to need them because we’ve got a lot of games,” he said. “Obviously we have Grimsby on Tuesday, Plymouth, another big game on Saturday, games coming thick and fast and I need as many bodies fit and ready.”
