Man Utd: Mason Mount shows true colours as ‘requests’ to Erik ten Hag come to light | Football | Sport
Man Utd: Mason Mount shows true colours as ‘requests’ to Erik ten Hag come to light | Football | Sport
Mason Mount has endured a disastrous first season at Manchester United due to an injury pile-up since his £60million transfer from boyhood club Chelsea last summer. However, the England midfielder has proven his character behind the scenes while he’s worked to overcome a string of early setbacks.
Mount arrived at Old Trafford as another big-money midfield signing to upgrade Erik ten Hag’s engine room after entering the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract.
He missed a month of action after suffering a hamstring problem in United’s second game of the season – a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Around six weeks after his return, Mount was dealt a calf issue that left him on the sidelines for a further four months before he returned to the pitch in United’s FA Cup quarter-final win against Liverpool on March 17.
According to ESPN, the 25-year-old had only been involved in first-team training for a couple of days before making himself available for the must-win clash at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag introduced him for the final 15 minutes of extra-time to add some energy in the 4-3 victory and is said to have been impressed with his commitment.
The report adds that Mount has gone the extra mile to understand the Dutchman’s instructions as quickly as possible by attending team meetings he wasn’t required to attend at Carrington.
It’s claimed that the 2021 and 2022 Chelsea Player of the Year has put himself through long days at the training ground and has regularly been among the last to leave.
Mount has also reportedly made a positive first impression off the pitch, winning over supporters with a series of respectable gestures.
He has often been pictured among the players stopping their cars to pose with fans and sign autographs at Carrington.
ESPN also report that Mount raised £20,000 for charity earlier in the season by offering a mascot experience, which included the opportunity to walk out with him before a game at Old Trafford.
The United No. 7 scored his first goal for the club in the 96th minute of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford before the hosts netted a deserved equaliser shortly after.
Ten Hag has heaped praise on Mount’s impact ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge on Thursday but insists he will carefully manage his fitness to avoid another injury blow.
« He [Mount] is a fantastic football player, but it is important, first, that he keeps fit because he has had three injuries. We have to avoid that, so we have to do this very carefully, » Ten Hag explained.
« To keep him fit is our first objective. Secondly, we want to use him so he can add benefit and contribute to the team. »
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