Ex-England striker Gary Lineker has tipped one current Manchester United star to follow in his footsteps and become the host of BBC’s iconic Match of the Day show.
Lineker has been a staple addition for the fan-favourite Match of the Day programme since 1999, with the likes of Alan Shearer and Micah Richards featuring as pundits.
The 62-year-old MOTD presenter has shown little desire to step down from his role on the TV show, but questions have been raised over who will replace him.
Former Tottenham player Jermaine Jenas has been tipped as a potential successor to Lineker, having previously hosted Match of the Day spin-off show MOTDx.
However, Lineker has now teased that a United star could one day hang up their football boots at Old Trafford and trade them in for the Match of the Day presenter seat.
Lineker tips Mason Mount for MOTD role
Speaking to Shearer and Richards, Lineker recalled the time that “three young footballers” visited the TV show during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
One of the aforementioned players who visited Lineker was Mason Mount, who arrived at Old Trafford in the summer after leaving Chelsea in a deal worth £60m.
Lineker admitted that Mount took his place in his seat and did “a few things to [the] camera,” with the United star not being “too bad” in the MOTD host’s eyes.
When discussing current players who could have a future in broadcasting, Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast: “Kasper Schmeichel, as a goalkeeper, very good. His dad’s done lots of punditry, that’s not a bad shout.
“Can you remember, Alan, when we did the World Cup in Moscow and there were three young footballers?
“It was Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Ryan Sessegnon. They came to watch us do the TV show.
“And Mason Mount sat in my chair and was doing a few things to [the] camera, and he wasn’t too bad. Who knows, maybe Mason Mount, we’ll see.”
Mount’s future at United is hopefully bright
Hosting Match of the Day seems like a distant future for Mount, who is currently finding his feet at United after a mixed start to the season.
The 24-year-old midfielder is still a conundrum for manager Erik ten Hag, with Mount struggling to maintain a regular starting place in the United first team.
Mount has been met with some criticism this season over his lack of impact at United, but the former Chelsea star could still turn the tide back in his favour.
The England international, who missed the early part of United’s season due to injury, still has plenty of time to adapt at United and Ten Hag still has faith in him.
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