- Mason Mount should start for Manchester United against Chelsea
- Injuries and inconsistencies have derailed Old Trafford career
- Midfielder last started Premier League game in December
The career of Mason Mount at Manchester United has been blighted by injuries ever since he arrived in 2023.
The 27-year-old is the ultimate ‘good guy’ in English football and is well-liked by his peers. Sometimes, the nice guys don’t always win – in football or in life.
However, he could win at Stamford Bridge against his ex-club for the first time in his United career.
‘Eager’ to Start Against Former Club
Under Ruben Amorim, Mason Mount was finally starting to rewrite his Manchester United story. The midfielder was signed by former manager Erik ten Hag, but looked reinvigorated under the Portuguese instead. Unfortunately, he has become the forgotten man at United.
His poor injury record this season has restricted him to just ten league starts. His last start was on Boxing Day in the 1-0 win against Newcastle United. Under interim boss Michael Carrick, he has played just 31 minutes of football across four games.
According to Steven Railston of Manchester Evening News (MEN), Mount is ‘desperate’ to play football in Manchester. Ahead of the next fixture, Railston wrote that Mount is “eager for a chance to start against Chelsea on Saturday”.
Manchester is a city that the Englishman feels settled in. He travelled for the squad training camp in Dublin last week. Having used an extended break to get back to full fitness, he will be available for the important tie against his former West London employers.
Mount Should Start
With injuries and suspensions forcing a reshuffle, Manchester United’s lineup will look slightly different from the side that fell to a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United on Monday. While Manuel Ugarte deputised for the injured Kobbie Mainoo, the 20-year-old starlet is set to return. The minor injury may result in a place on the bench, rather than straight back into the lineup.
This opening provides Michael Carrick with a decision whether to trust Mason Mount or not. One of the main criticisms levelled at the former Middlesbrough boss following the Leeds loss was his late substitutions.
When Ugarte struggled in the first half, he was not hooked at the break. Many fans believe that Bruno Fernandes should have been dropped deeper alongside Casemiro at halftime to allow Mount to inject some creativity into the number ten role. It is something that Carrick can look to experiment with against The Blues.
Instead, Mount remained an unused substitute. Saturday’s clash with Chelsea offers the perfect stage for a redemption arc. Mount arrived from Chelsea with a winners’ medal from the Champions League, Club World Cup, and Super Cup. His only trophy at Old Trafford has been the FA Cup victory in 2023/24. Individual accolades have been a rarity since his ‘peak’ at Stamford Bridge.
A massive squad overhaul looms this summer. To avoid being lumped on the transfer list, he must step up between now and the end of the season when he is given his chance under Carrick.
