Manchester United have been urged to find a way to get Mason Mount into the starting line-up.
Mason Mount was a second half substitute in Manchester United’s win over Fulham at the weekend, playing the final 11 minutes.
It has been a tough start for the £55 million summer signing for Chelsea, who has only been selected in the line-up for four Premier League games this season, two of which were the opening two matches.
He missed a spell out with injury in late August and early September, but since returning to full fitness, he has found it a struggle to make Erik ten Hag‘s starting line-up.
It is a peculiar situation for the player who was first in through the door this summer, and has raised questions over the manager’s strategy, on and off the pitch.
Manchester United urged to pick Mason Mount
Mason Mount’s situation is becoming a talking point. It would be one thing seeing him left out if Manchester United were playing well. But the team is performing poorly, just about scraping by in games, or getting well beaten.
Former Premier League midfielder Robbie Earle has called on Mount to be given opportunities, but wonders if United’s dysfunction is dragging him down.
Earle told NBC Sports: “Eriksen’s a lovely footballer and we appreciate all that he does but he’s ageing now. We spent a load of money on Mason Mount, we buy him from Chelsea, a big important part of the jigsaw, and he’s on the bench, he comes on late on, it just doesn’t feel right.
“Having spent that money and knowing his ability you’ve got to persevere and find a way. You talk about structure and the system not being right, I don’t know in his head if he’s in the right space in that team to go and dictate games like he can.
“We’ve seen him for England and Chelsea run big games, absolutely dictate big games. Maybe its a sign of how things are going at Manchester United.”
Mount needs to show his quality
It is fair comment to say Manchester United’s overall struggles are not making it straightforward for Mount to produce his best form. He has had a tough 2023 in general, with a Chelsea team on the slide, before an injury ended his last season early.
When he has played for Manchester United, Mount has not yet displayed his best form, struggling to create chances from open play, and has not yet demonstrated his ability to ‘dictate games’.
And that’s a problem, because Manchester United desperately need a player like that right now. Heading into this week’s crucial Champions League match against Copenhagen, Mount will hope to be involved, he did not play a single minute of the home win against the Danes.
It could just be a confidence issue for the midfielder, and United fans should get behind him. The only way he will improve is by getting onto the pitch, and Erik ten Hag needs to find a way for that to happen, potentially using him on the right wing on a temporary basis.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/Zs4lF6c