Nathaniel Mendez-Laing signed for Sheffield Wednesday after being unattached since his release from Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old was a key performer as Cardiff City earned promotion to the Premier League in 2017/18 and linked up with Neil Warnock again on Teesside last season, but seems to be a player on the way down at the moment.

It will be interesting to see how Mendez-Laing fits into Darren Moore's extremely attacking three at the back system. It seems unlikely that the winger will be trusted with the demands and defensive mindset of a wing back role so that only leaves a spot in the front two up for grabs.

There is a lot of competition for places in that area but Mendez-Laing certainly has the ability to force his way in.

Here, we have taken a look at three qualities Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will bring to Sheffield Wednesday...

Unpredictability

It is easy to assume that a player like Mendez-Laing is not very motivated or committed off the pitch.

If he had realised his potential in the last few years then there is a strong chance that he would be playing in the Premier League and if Moore can get the best out of him, Wednesday have an incredible player, for the level, on their hands.

The 29-year-old can look fairly ineffective for the majority of a match before coming alive in a five minute spell to change the game. It is likely that he will initially be utilised as an impact substitute and therefore this quality may well be showcased in the coming weeks.

Versatility

Mendez-Laing's bulky frame, effortless pace and dribbling ability could see him adapt to a central striker role as he career progresses.

He has briefly played through the middle at times and with Moore currently not playing a formation that uses wingers, it could be his most logical route into the first team. As the games come thick and fast in League One this quality could become very valuable to Moore in rotating the squad.

Experience

 

 

Promotion experience is a bonus to getting this deal over the line for the Owls. Mendez-Laing will not have envisaged dropping down to League One at this stage of his career a few years ago but, approaching 30 there is a chance that he could take on more of a senior role in the dressing room.

It was a very tight promotion race that Cardiff succeeded in under Warnock in 2017/18 and one that, with the ground they have to make up, looks to be building nicely in the third tier this campaign. Mendez-Laing has big game player qualities that could come to the fore when Wednesday need him most.