Erik ten Hag has backed Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed English forward Mason Mount despite his underwhelming performance last season. The manager claims that a player’s ability can’t be judged based on a single season. Mount will be one of the key attacking options for the Red Devils in the upcoming season, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Mount has established himself as one of the top attacking midfielders in the league with his past performances for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Englishman has scored 33 goals and provided 35 assists in 195 games for the Blues during his four-year journey with the Chelsea senior team.
The Chelsea academy graduate joined United last summer in a £60m deal. However, the English forward has failed to make an impact due to his performance and a major calf injury that sidelined him for a significant part of the campaign. He has only scored one goal and provided one assist in 20 games across all competitions for the Red Devils.
United’s manager backed the former Chelsea ace in a pre-season press conference, claiming that if Mount regains his fitness, he will be a better player for United (h/t Manchester Evening News).
“You can’t judge his season, because he was injured. Don’t judge him. But when he is fit he will be a very good player for us and we can use him, versatile… he will help us a lot.”
Can Mount make an impact in the new season?
Manchester United’s midfield struggled significantly last season with injuries and underwhelming performances, with only skipper Bruno Fernandes performing decently. The Red Devils are also set to offload multiple midfielders this summer, and Ten Hag needs to strengthen the department with proper additions.
Mason Mount has already proved his value with his performances for his boyhood club in previous years. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old midfielder failed to impress United fans in his debut season with the Red Devils. Erik ten Hag believes in the midfielder and expects him to regain his form and fitness for the upcoming season.
Mount is a versatile player in the United squad, and the Dutch manager can use him in various roles on the front line. With Mount and Bruno, the manager can create a strong attacking combo, which would be useful for the club to score goals. Ten Hag may also use him as a winger this season, as United need a consistent performer on the right flank, with Antony failing to impress over the past two seasons.
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United need to bolster their midfield department for the new season, and fans can expect some young faces in the club as the manager focuses on young prodigies in the summer transfer market.
