Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged fans to “judge” Mason Mount following a disappointing first season at Old Trafford.
Mount left Chelsea last summer in a deal worth up to £60m but has had a limited impact at his new club, mainly due to injury problems. In 20 games, he managed to score one goal and one assist.
The 25-year-old had seen his final season with Chelsea cut short by a pubic bone problem that required surgery to repair. He picked up a fresh injury just two games into his United career, with a long-term calf injury forcing him to miss almost four months of the campaign.
“You can't judge his season, because he was injured. Don't judge him. But when he's healthy, he'll be a very good player for us and we can use him, he's flexible,” emphasized Ten Hag.
“You need certain types in the squad, team players, multi-functional players. Definitely, he is one of the players who can play in multiple positions, he will help the team.”
At his best, Mount is a reliable and goal-scoring midfielder. His 2021/22 season is proof of that, contributing a combined 29 goals and assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Having been unable to play for England since the 2022 World Cup due to fitness issues, Mount has had the benefit of a full pre-season this summer. He was among the first group of players to arrive for work at Carrington when training began earlier this month.
Ten Hag refers to the Mount's ability to play different roles in a group. As a 'number 10', he can provide competition or cover for Bruno Fernandes, while another can slot deep into the '8' role if United are tasked with breaking the lines of a stubborn opponent. The Mount is also known to work sideways, or as a 'false 9'.
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