Mason Mount suffered yet another injury setback during the Manchester Derby, forcing him to leave the game after just 12 minutes. The midfielder's early exit added to his woes as he has been plagued by injuries since joining Manchester United last summer.
Playing against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Mount was selected to start, presumably on the back of recent promising performances. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse almost immediately. Just minutes after the whistle blew, Mount went down off the ball and quickly signaled to the bench for assistance. His distress was evident, as he received treatment on the field before having to be helped off, visibly upset.
Upon his departure, which came after only 12-14 minutes of play, the United team rallied around him, offering support as he limped down the tunnel. The initial substitution saw Kobbie Mainoo step onto the field to replace Mount, who left the pitch with what appeared to be tears welling up in his eyes.
Speaking after the match, United manager Ruben Amorim provided insight on Mount’s situation, saying, "He made the movement and stretched his leg, he felt something. But we need him." Mount’s injury situation has become increasingly frustrating for both the player and the team as he has struggled to maintain fitness since his £60 million transfer from Chelsea.
The nature of Mount’s injury has yet to be confirmed, but commentator Gary Neville expressed his concerns during the match. "It's not good losing a player 12 minutes... he’s got this resigned look on his face of someone who has been through rehabilitation so many times before," Neville remarked. The former Manchester United star noted the psychological toll injuries can take, especially on younger players like Mount, stating, "It’s demoralizing, and you feel like you are letting everybody down."
Mount’s injury has capped what has already been a tumultuous start to the season for him. Until now, he had managed just four Premier League starts so far this season, struggling with hamstring and head issues earlier. Each time he seemed to be gaining momentum, another setback would thwart his progress. Since joining United, he has only made 32 appearances, completing the full 90 minutes just once.
Alongside the player’s emotional state, the repercussions of this latest injury might ripple far beyond Mount alone; it could force changes to Amorim's game plan moving forward. "We have to adjust our strategy because Mason is important for us," the coach noted as he recognized the impact of losing the midfielder early on.
Leon Osman, commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, echoed similar sentiments, stating, "The look on Mason Mount's face says it all. He's pretty gutted. It’s exactly what he didn’t want… he was hoping for some game time to find his rhythm." The moment was heavy for Mount as he had finally been provided with the opportunity to start the match, having been selected over other options like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who were surprisingly left out of the matchday squad altogether.
The decision to exclude Rashford and Garnacho influenced United’s tactical setup, and had Mount not gone down injured, this could have been pivotal for the team’s performance. Amorim explained his decision to omit the two players as being rooted in their training performances, emphasizing the holistic approach he takes when selecting his squad: "Everything is on the line when we analyze, try to choose the players. So, my selection is simple. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to the game."
A reshuffling was necessary and the focus now shifts to Mount’s recovery. United earned a late 2-1 win against City, with late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo providing some solace amid the disappointment of losing Mount so early. The team will need to adapt to the challenges presented by his absence, which could potentially extend over the busy winter fixtures.
Looking forward, Amorim stated, "Mason Mount, he stretched his leg in play. He felt something, so let’s recover. He is really important for us; he’s the kind of player our team needed." The public and fans alike will be watching closely for updates on Mount’s fitness as his future contributions remain uncertain.
