Mason Mount has become the second of Manchester United’s summer signings to wind up on the injured list at this early stage of the season. While striker Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be fit enough for the bench against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Mount is facing a spell on the sidelines. The midfielder, who joined from Chelsea for £55 million, is expected to be out until after the September international window.
On the one hand, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Mount and United. Despite beating Wolverhampton Wanderers in their season opener, the Red Devils looked desperately poor on the night. Matters worsened when Tottenham Hotspur eased past them 2-0 last Saturday. A United side that has looked impotent is robbed of another creative outlet during Mount’s convalescence.
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But there is another prism through which to view this unfortunate event. Mount hasn’t enjoyed the easiest start to life since swapping royal blue for the famous red. That number seven shirt has weighed heavily as the England player adapts to a new role under manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman has deployed Mount in a box-to-box role, asking him to start deeper than he used to at Chelsea. The days of the 24-year-old as an energetic number ten appear to be over, with Bruno Fernandes fulfilling that remit at Old Trafford.
Given United’s desperate start, Mount has taken the brunt of the pressure. It is the curse of the new signing to have an outsized influence expected from you while you adjust to your changed surroundings. Given his status as a Champions League winner and an important member of the national side, fans wanted Mount to hit the ground running. Instead, the player and his team have just hit the ground full stop.
Mount’s enforced absence alleviates this pressure. Nobody is expecting Mason to perform from the treatment table. With the player sidelined until after the transfer window slams shut, there is even a chance fans will have another midfielder to lump their hopes on by the time he returns. United retain an interest in Fiorentina middle-man Sofyan Amrabat. A natural defensive midfielder, his arrival would take the strain off Mount trying to adapt to an unfamiliar role.
In the short term Mount’s absence could also help Ten Hag. Against Nottingham Forest he now has the option of fielding a midfielder alongside Casemiro who is accustomed to his expectations. Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay have both lined up alongside the Brazilian before. They know his game and their wider duties in United’s system. The stability they bring could take the heat off a midfield that has misfired in the opening two games.
These aren’t permanent solutions of course. Mount will need to be reintegrated. His fee and reputation demands it, as does the fact that he has a lot to offer his new club. But a pause for thought could end up benefiting all parties. Mount returning to the side on the back of improved performances and better results will boost the confidence of those around him. Suddenly he becomes a cog in an already-winning machine rather than a failing part of an engine in need of an overhaul.
It is never good to see a player get injured and it is with all due sensitivity that we cast this as a positive. But United and Mount may end up looking at this brief absence as the reset they each needed. The Red Devils and their new man may find that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
