With Liam Thompson, Ebou Adams, and Harrison Armstrong providing a strong base behind Jerry Yates and Marcus Harness, the Rams have, however, been playing considerably better in their 5-3-2 configuration in recent weeks.

As Hull City prepares for Derby this weekend, fans will be eager to see John Eustace employ this style once more. His squad has benefited from its stability and has been able to create assaults that involve almost every player on the game.

Verdict made on Derby’s most underwhelming player this season

Since his arrival, the Rams have seen an improvement in their performance, which has been made possible by Eustace’s teaching. Some players have had more difficulty than others, though, just like with any squad at the bottom of the table.

Throughout the season, the East Midlands team has not performed well enough offensively, and its wingers in particular should have performed better.

Football League World asked Shaun Woodward, their Derby Fan Pundit, which player he thinks has been the most disappointing in 2024–2025.

He said : “Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, for me, is the one that’s majorly underachieved this season compared to last season. He had 25 goal contributions over the course of last season, and he was one of the main reasons we got promoted.

“But this season his form has been dire. Yes, it’s a step-up and there’s always been question marks over his ability to be able in the Championship, but I thought off the back of last season he’d come in and be really confident and have a big impact on the team.”

Shaun continued: “But I think he’s got three goals and a few assists this season and it’s just not good enough. He was given the armband as well, so I don’t know if that had an impact on his form, but his season has been massively underwhelming and even if we do go down, I do think we need to start looking in a different direction.

“Both him and Kayden Jackson have just not been good enough this season. So, I’d say Mendez-Laing is the one who has majorly underachieved.”

Mendez-Laing’s future could be up for debate this summer

Eustace will have to make a decision regarding whether to retain the Guatemalan international or let him go after a difficult season as the winger enters the final year of his contract in the summer.

Mendez-Laing played a significant role for the Rams in League One, but he hasn’t been able to replicate that performance since being promoted, and he no longer looks like the player who could run down the wing and beat a defender with ease.

Despite having a fractured eye socket against Luton Town only three days prior, he demonstrated against West Brom that he still had the class to perform on his day and battled through the discomfort to start for Derby.

However, he is now 33 years old, and as the months pass, his capacity to work at this level will deteriorate, potentially leaving Eustace with the regrettable duty of letting him go if he finds a competent substitute.