Full article : The No 7 shirt at Manchester United carries some extra weight. The problem for Mason Mount is he has yet to wear it often enough to prove he can carry it. The 27-year-old England midfielder is into his fourth season at Old Trafford but has made 72 appearances since joining from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £60million in July 2023. He has almost missed as many games as he has played, with his absence noted for 71 matches through various injuries. The significance of being handed United’s No 7 shirt, which legends such as Eric Cantona, George Best, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham wore, was not lost on Mount when he was handed it by the club’s then manager Erik ten Hag following his transfer. “I know the history and understand the responsibility that comes with this shirt,” he posted on his Instagram account at the time. The fact he has played just 2,833 minutes in that jersey since is why he has yet to really earn the trust of United supporters. And while there’s still plenty of goodwill among the fanbase, this patience does have limits. Even the start of this campaign has been hindered by another knock. Mount was impressive in pre-season with performances indicating he was fit, sharp and ready to make an impact. He looked good in a deeper midfield role in the first three warm-up matches against Wrexham, Rosenborg and Atletico Madrid. Then early against Paris St-Germain on August 8, he was forced off with a foot problem. The substitution was described as a “precaution” but Mount then missed the final two friendlies against Leeds and Milan, as well as United’s opening Premier League defeat against Hull City last Saturday. Head coach Michael Carrick had wanted to start the season with Mount in midfield, given the changes in the position at the club and the fact he was with the team all through the summer while others were resting after being involved in the World Cup. The former United and England midfielder likes him in a No 8 position. But yet again, any momentum Mount had gained was immediately halted. It’s the story of his United career, sadly. There have always been a few performances – he has seven goals and two assists with United – to give belief that he could be a good acquisition, only for another injury to strike and stall his progress. Last season, though, brought positive signs. Mount missed just 10 games through injury and played more than 1,000 minutes with 13 starts in all competitions — his most in any season since he joined. Carrick still believes Mount, who returned to training this week ahead of the Sunday meeting with Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, can be a success story. “One hundred per cent Mason can have a big impact, no doubt,” he said on Friday. Yet this feels like a defining year for Mount; possibly his last chance to establish himself as an important United player. Next summer, as things stand, he will have just a year left on his contract, albeit with United holding an option to extend it by a further 12 months, and that means a decision may need to be made. Should the club try to make any money back on their investment or protect his value? Then there is the fact United have invested £150million in a midfield revamp this summer, and it has been rebuilt around a young core. Where does Mount, who is 28 in January, fit in with that? If he is to play deeper, as he did in pre-season, then he faces competition from Kobbie Mainoo plus new signings Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, three of whom are aged 22 or under. It is more likely Mount would be rotated with Mainoo and Tielemans in a midfield pivot, given his attributes. Further forward, his competition is Bruno Fernandes, the club captain who barely misses a minute. Yet the hope for Mount is that with European football back on the menu this season (meaning at least eight matches in the Champions League) and the ambition to go deeper in domestic cup competitions after two first-hurdle falls last time, Carrick will have to rotate. “I think with every player, we want to keep them on the pitch as much as we can, and certain players end up going through spells a little bit different to others,” Carrick said when asked if the club have looked into solving Mount’s injury woes. “But we (have) got unbelievable staff and facilities here, and things we can draw upon to try and make it better for every player and keep them as fit as long as we can for sure.” Before Mount moved to United, he was an England regular. He started five games, including the final, at the pandemic-delayed European Championship of 2021 and featured in four of the five matches in the following year’s World Cup. However, his most recent (the 36th) international appearance was in the quarter-final defeat by France in the latter tournament. When he decided to join United, there was rival interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. It felt like a shrewd signing, if a bit expensive, given he had just one year left on his contract at Chelsea, yet since that day, his stock has significantly fallen. It hasn’t been easy for Mount, but Carrick insists he has not needed to lift the player’s mood. “He’s very level-headed,” added the United head coach. “I think he’s a really top character in personality, and does a lot of the right things with the right intentions. The 7 teams who have the most net spend on PL players Tifo Football “So, he’s the type where you can really have a good relationship and an understanding with, and he was disappointed to pick up this small knock that he did (against PSG), but it won’t knock him for what’s coming next in the season ahead. We’re really positive about that.” Mount undoubtedly has the quality to either play in a deeper role in midfield or further forward in rotation with Fernandes. United are keen to utilise him in both positions this season. His pre-season form only strengthened belief inside the club that he can still be an important player. Yet, because of all the injuries, the setbacks and the questions over where he fits, Mount has never had a sustained run in the United team. That must come now if he is to get the chance to prove he can carry the weight of that No 7 shirt.   submitted by   /u/Shroft [link]   [comments]