“Nobody’s speaking about it” – ex-striker doesn’t understand lack of criticism for Manchester United star

Mason Mount’s career as a Manchester United player has been a mixed one after he signed under Erik ten Hag for £55 million from Chelsea in the summer.

Mason Mount has made 12 appearances for Manchester United so far in his career, starting seven times and providing just one assist in an admittedly dysfunctional team under Erik ten Hag.

His season has been to some extent hampered by injury, with the player missing six games with an unknown problem after playing the club’s opening two fixtures of the season, and has since failed to break into the United XI, mostly playing with a role from the bench.

Former United striker Louis Saha has explained his belief that more criticism should be piling on Mount, citing the spotlight that Antony and Marcus Rashford are often under.

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“I get asked a lot to comment on players, especially the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony, but is there some sort of protection over Mason Mount? Mason should have an important role in this team, but nobody can understand his impact,” Saha told BetFred.

“In his first six months at Manchester United, Antony was already under fire, so can somebody tell me why the press are okay with Mason Mount not playing well? It seems fine that he’s not playing well. Antony hasn’t won the Champions League, so why is there not the same level of criticism for Mason Mount than there is for Antony? I just don’t understand it.

“I think there may be a misunderstanding about where Mount fits into the team positionally. When he plays in the centre of midfield, he seems like he’s too far advanced up the pitch when he should be protecting pockets of space that leave his team exposed.

“I personally don’t understand his position. He should be coming in late, like Paul Scholes used to do, and I’m not seeing that in his game. 

“Mason Mount should be a big player for Manchester United like Marcus Rashford or Antony, so I don’t understand why those two get the intense criticism but Mason doesn’t when he’s not performing at all. He’s not scoring goals, he’s not assisting and nobody’s speaking about it. I just don’t understand it.”

Ten Hag answered questions on why Mount has not been starting games, citing that the form of others in the team is one reason for blocking his time in the XI.

“He had some starts,” Ten Hag said. “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.”