Erik ten Hag explains two reasons why Mason Mount is being benched at Man United

Mason Mount has started just one of his last five appearances for Manchester United and has only completed one 90-minute match for The Reds.

Erik ten Hag pushed for the signing of the midfielder from Chelsea in the summer and got his man for an initial £55 million, with a further £5 million in add-ons.

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After returning from a short injury at the end of September, Mount began to flourish in United’s underperforming side. Alongside Rasmus Hojlund, the English midfielder was one of the few bright sparks in the team before the international break.

Since then, however, Mount has started just once for the team, in the Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle. Scott McTominay has started United’s last three Premier League fixtures, as well as the crucial game against Copenhagen in the Champions League that United lost midweek.

The Scotsman has scored three goals this term and provided one assist. Some believe that his role in the side is a short-term solution from Ten Hag due to his goalscoring abilities in a side that has struggled to put the ball in the net.

Ten Hag was looking to sell the midfielder in the summer but United could not convince West Ham to increase their £30 million bid.

Speaking on Mount’s bench role at the moment for the team, Ten Hag has suggested that McTominay’s form is one reason, as well as his interrupted season so far with the injury he suffered.

“He had some starts. Also recently, last week against Newcastle, but there are always reasons and sometimes, like the injury [at the start of the season] and other players doing well, then you have to wait for your time to play,” said Ten Hag.

“It hasn’t changed at all [the expectations of Mount], but he started the season, then he got injured, so that is the worst moment for a new player to get injured because it stops the integration process and that was a setback for us all. Now we have to find his place back.”