Frank Lampard believes Mason Mount has a job on his hands finding a place in Manchester United’s starting lineup.
The England international has struggled since moving from Chelsea last summer, mainly due to fitness problems, but Lampard says the fact that captain Bruno Fernandes already plays in Mount’s “best position” makes things doubly difficult:
“In Tuchel’s team that won the Champions League, he was a 10, highest sort of 10 on the side, two 10s and then a 9, and I think he could do that better than I could. I liked to come from deeper.”
“He can play as a single 10 as well, but, again, you’re going into where the captain of the football club, Bruno Fernandes, is playing – who hardly gets injured, as far as I see it. So I think that will be a difficult one that’s a conundrum to solve as a team to get him into the team in his best position.”
Mount could be deployed in a front three
As Lampard points out, Mount is best deployed further up the pitch so there is a good case for playing him in the frontline when he returns to full fitness.
The 25-year-old doesn’t possess a great deal of pace, but he does take up good positions and can link up play. Considering Antony’s struggles, there is every chance that Mount will be more effective on the wing than the Brazilian.
When can United fans expect to see Mount back in action?
The midfielder has not played since November due to a calf problem. Manager Erik ten Hag says that he should be available again soon and we shall have to wait and see whether he is in the squad for the FA Cup tie against Newport County this weekend.
Mount’s first season has been pretty much a write-off up until now and he will be hoping to make amends when he does make his first-team comeback.
