Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount has had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford.
The £55m signing from Chelsea has had problems with form and fitness since arriving at the club in the summer, and he has yet to really make any sort of impression.
After being benched for the 1-0 win over Fulham at the weekend, fans on X were asked whether manager Erik ten Hag should be starting Mount more often, with many offering up differing opinions:
Mount should be a starter. Period
— Hood K.U.S.H.A.B.A (@IamHoodK) November 4, 2023
What has he done so far to begin with?
— Sanguro (@Sanguroofficial) November 4, 2023
In fact, I’d rather he starts at RW than Antony
— Ashiata is Here 🎶 🪽☔️ (@iAmElnissi) November 4, 2023
We have to play him eventually but hes been mid for a long time before joining
— 64AHMED (@19Ahmed64) November 4, 2023
Yes, start him over eriksen
— yo (@yop1zza) November 4, 2023
Play him on the right
— Andrew Martin (@andrew_r_martin) November 5, 2023
60m down the drain. And most of us said it when it happened.
— Alan Sithole (@alan_sithole) November 4, 2023
Enough with Anthony.. drop him and playing Mount!
— 🕊 (@muloyoung) November 4, 2023
Mount’s performances don’t justify more starts
While the hamstring injury he sustained in August did disrupt Mount’s start at United, he has been fit and available for well over a month, and we have yet to see an improvement in his form.
In 10 appearances for the club this season, the 24-year-old has 0 goals and just 1 assist. He has started 7 times in total so ten Hag cannot be blamed for keeping him on the sidelines. Mount simply needs to perform better in order to get more opportunities.
United could try and deploy Mount in more advanced positions
There is an argument to say that ten Hag has been playing Mount in deeper-lying midfield roles than he is usually accustomed to.
At Chelsea, the England international was regularly deployed as a winger, which is not a position he has played for United so far. With Antony struggling for form, perhaps Mount could be considered as a replacement for the Brazilian?
Is Erik ten Hag to blame for United’s bad form? Watch our pundits debate on Shots!TV here
