Manchester United star's role less clear than ever despite Erik ten Hag 'trust'

Mason Mount has spent much of his time as a Manchester United player injured, but the latest setback may be the most ill-timed.

Mount, 25, has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury but is back in contention for the game against Crystal Palace this weekend. Selhurst Park is also where his Premier League season prematurely ended last term after picking up a muscle problem in training days after that match.

Four-and-a-half months later, it is where Mount may make his return to the pitch after four weeks out. However, his role in the team is far from certain due to the developments during that time on the sideline.

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Mount started the season as an advanced midfielder behind Bruno Fernandes. However, his absence from the side has seen Joshua Zirkzee lead the line with the United captain playing off him.

Christian Eriksen even played that role in the midweek Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Barnsley, scoring twice at Old Trafford. Kobbie Mainoo has been the one constant deeper in midfield, with one of Casemiro, Eriksen or Manuel Ugarte.

The latter is seemingly the first-choice partner next to his teenage teammate, meaning there is now little room for Mount in that equation. He has previously been used off the left on occasion but with Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Amad and Antony the options out wide, reprising those roles appears unlikely.

Speaking this week, United boss Ten Hag hinted that Mount will have to be eased back into action following his latest setback, meaning chances to impress may, for the time being at least, be more limited.

"You have to be careful," said Ten Hag. "In top football, you always go to boundaries. When you have a full squad available, then it’s easier to manage the load. When you are in circumstances like last season and there's a need to play, we had to overload them. We hope we can integrate them in a very careful way."‌

He added: "The circumstances in that moment [United's last game against Crystal Palace], from February onwards, we had to find every time 11 players to construct a team. Now we are in a different place - we have 18 players to choose from and we can pick a team."

But the United manager is reputedly still backing the midfielder. "Erik ten Hag is really supporting Mason Mount," Fabrizio Romano claimed on his eponymous YouTube channel.

"On a daily basis, Erik ten Hag is talking to the player, he's trusting the player. He wants to give him some time to return in the best way possible, not to have any injury problems anymore and to give him the opportunity to play on a regular basis, to be consistent and to be back at his level. Erik ten Hag is especially still pushing to give Mason Mount chances, to trust Mason Mount for the long term and to have Mason Mount as an important player for Manchester United's project."

While Mount first and foremost needs to stay fit, he will also be hoping to be handed the chance to seal his place in United's strongest XI before his side get into a groove without him.

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