Ruben Amorim feels that Mason Mount is well-suited to playing as one of the two ‘number 10s’ in his favoured 3-4-2-1 shape at Manchester United.
Mount returned to the matchday squad at Leicester City prior to the international break, following injury, and was introduced as a substitute during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest – his first involvement for the Reds since 15 December.
The England international may only have been on the pitch for 12 minutes but our no.7 showed flashes of what he is capable of.
He curled a shot narrowly wide of Matz Sels’s post just moments after being introduced in place of Joshua Zirkzee – the closest United had really come to breaking Forest’s resolve in the second half, before Harry Maguire’s two late opportunities.
Mason’s minutes are obviously being managed carefully, given the issues he’s experienced since joining from Chelsea, but his availability is a big plus for Amorim, with tricky tests against Manchester City, Lyon and Newcastle United on the horizon over the next fortnight.
Our head coach believes Mount's time at Stamford Bridge and with the national team shows he can be a good option on either side of the attack, as we look for the right blend going forward domestically and in Europe.
“If you look at the history of Mason Mount, he played in this system many times, especially in Chelsea, he played left-hand, right-hand [side],”
said Amorim.
“So I think it’s a very good position for him.”
Mount, Maguire and Leny Yoro were able to feature in Nottingham and, with Altay Bayindir also back in the squad and Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw seemingly close to a return, it looks as though United's significant injury issues are starting to ease.