Forgotten man Mason Mount’s timely Man Utd return ahead of summer cull could make him perfect answer for two managers

MASON Mount may have become something of a forgotten man in the minds of many Manchester United fans.

But the returning midfielder is firmly at the forefront of the thinking of the two managers he needs to impress.

Mount returned to pitch for the first time in THREE months in the dying embers of United's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old replaced Joshua Zirkzee in the 78th minute – and was inches away from finding an equaliser almost instantly.

He was involved in United's flurry of chances in the final ten minutes, including Harry Maguire‘s effort that was cleared off the line by Murillo in the last kick of the game.

And Mount's return couldn't have come at a better time, or under a better manager, who is still juggling and shifting his 4-3-3 system.

With United set to make sweeping squad changesin the summer, the once-loved England star has a great chance to stake his claim to a place as one of Amorim's No 10s.

In fact, the former Sporting Lisbon manager adores Mount – he said so himself.

Amorim revealed: “I really love Mason because I have seen how much he suffers, but also how he does everything right...how he eats, how he lives.

“When a player does that, they will always have the support of everyone at the club – and you must remember, he was a European champion and very talented.”

And if Mount can prove his injury woes are finally behind him, you will not see anyone outside his immediate family smile wider than Thomas Tuchel.

As Tuchel gathered his first England squad at St George’s Park last month, ahead of the World Cup qualifying wins over Albania and Latvia, the absence of Mount was hardly a shock.

Indeed, his last appearance in an England shirt came more than two and a half years ago.

While everybody recalls Harry Kane blazing his second penalty against France over Hugo Lloris’ bar in the final moments of the World Cup quarter-final defeat in Doha, only a few will remember how it was a VAR review for Theo Hernandez’s barge on Mount that led to the spot-kick being awarded.

Mount had made himself an England regular, starting the group games against Iran and USA and with 36 caps and five goals to his name before his 24th birthday.

He also started the Euro 2020 final against Italy, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat at Wembley.

Since then, his career has stalled, a pubic bone issue curtailing the final half-season in SW6 before his £55m move to United, where he has made just NINE Prem starts in 20 months.

Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in November could have been a springboard and Mount played the final four minutes of the 1-1 draw at Ipswich in the Portuguese manager’s first game.

But Mount lasted just 14 minutes of the 2-1 Manchester derby win at City before Christmas, his last taste of action.

United have played 98 games since Mount signed but he has missed more than half of them, leading to a feeling from many that, if there has to be a cull of the squad to fund a rebuild this summer, he will be among those considered dispensable.

Not so. Indeed, Amorim was thrilled to have Mount – unused – back on the bench at Leicester before the international break.

The United boss said: “The fact is we need players like him. Maybe he can’t play too much, too soon – but even five minutes of Mason Mount is perfect.”;

Such words can only help Mount on a personal as well as a footballing level. And it will be a similar situation with the new England boss.

Tuchel’s praise of Mount during their Champions League-winning time together at Chelsea signalled a bond of trust.

The German said: “Mason has the full package mentally, in terms of talent and physically. And the most important part is his character.

“He has both feet on the ground and he’s a nice guy. He came to training every day to learn something new and have a new experience.

“Mason is a guy who can recover very fast. He is a very physical player, who has self-confidence but in a positive way.

“It was a pleasure to have him, to be at his side and guide and support him.

“The most important part was that he was not affected by all the praise. He feels an obligation to make the most of himself and wants it absolutely badly. It’s a top mix.”;

That relationship was fostered from an unpromising beginning – when the first interaction between the pair was a ruck over team selection.

Even five minutes of Mason Mount is perfect.

Ruben Amorim

When Tuchel arrived at Chelsea he wanted the reassurance of more experience in his team.

That meant players like veteran Cesar Azpilicueta who had not played much under previous manager Frank Lampard, and midfielder Jorginho.

Mount was having none of it and pointedly told his manager so.

Adding that in previous weeks he had been Man of the Match on a couple of occasions and that Tammy Abraham had recently scored a hat trick.

It could have backfired explosively but instead Tuchel embraced the fire in Mount’s belly and admired his passion – a trait he shares.

Mount didn’t step back on his principles and became the first name on Tuchel's Chelsea team-sheet.

With some other bosses it might not have gone down well and could have meant curtains for him at a young age at Stamford Bridge.

Instead, Tuchel harnessed Mount’s energy and enthusiasm and the pair went on to forge a now concrete-like relationship.

The Cobham academy graduate would play in various positions for Tuchel at his manager’s command. As a wide player, as a number ten, holding midfielder.

Mason has the full package mentally, in terms of talent and physically. And the most important part is his character.

Thomas Tuchel

He was named Chelsea Player of the Year for consecutive years between 2021 and 2022.

Mount, too, was grateful for Tuchel’s input, recalling: “He was so clear on what he wanted and how he would like us to play, very clear on the roles and responsibilities, that it made it very easy for us to transition.

“From day one, as players we realised how he gives his game plan. It made it easy for us to go onto the pitch and do it.

“Under him I played a little bit higher than I was used to – as a kind of forward 10, or sometimes a winger or a false 9.

“I had to adapt a bit but that gave me more opportunity to get into the box and have the opportunities to score and create.”;

A goalscorer who is versatile and adaptable, able to change positions at the drop of a hat, and who wants to repay his managers for their faith.

For club, and country, a born-again Mount could be the perfect answer.

The next few months will show whether he is able to thrust himself back into the limelight.