Manchester United star must ‘stop being the first player substituted’ following Erik ten Hag praise

Mason Mount has been told he must stop becoming the first player to be substituted for Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s “high-class” praise.

Mason Mount, 25, encountered significant obstacles in his debut season with Manchester United, with injuries frequently keeping the midfielder off the pitch.

After a £50 million transfer from Chelsea, Mount was entrusted with the iconic No. 7 shirt, carrying high expectations to prove his worth—expectations he has yet to meet fully.

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Doubts have emerged regarding his compatibility with Erik ten Hag’s system, especially as Kobbie Mainoo has risen to prominence over the past year.

Mount started in United’s first two matches of the season, playing a crucial role in their pressing strategy against Fulham and Manchester City.

However, he struggled to make a significant impact with the ball, and he was substituted first on both occasions at around the 60-minute mark, notably for match-winner Joshua Zirkzee during the Premier League opener.

Speaking to SportsKeeda, former Arsenal forward Paul Merson, who regularly works as a Premier League pundit, explained that Mount must stop becoming the first player off the field on every occasion.

“When the going gets tough for Manchester United, he’s usually the first to come off, and he has to work towards changing that,” Merson explained.

Merson then added: “I am actually a big fan of Mount, but he needs a little bit of luck.”

Ten Hag himself recently spoke about Mount, explaining that he sees the midfielder as a “high-class” player who had a brutal debut campaign.

“We know he’s a high-class player and just bringing his skills in,” Ten Hag told reporters earlier this month.

“Last season, he had a very bad season, a very tough season for him because of all his injuries, so now we are very pleased he had a very good pre-season.

“I’m sure he will now, from this point on, be contributing to the team if he stays fit. That counts for every player.”

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