Mason Mount will reportedly be back in the Manchester United squad for Saturday’s crunch FA Cup quarter-final clash with arch Premier League rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
With the season entering it’s final stretch – and with Manchester United’s hopes of winning a trophy this term on the line – an apparent easing of the club’s injury crisis could hardly have been better timed.
Erik ten Hag confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Friday that top-scorer Rasmus Hojlund is likely to feature against Liverpool after missing the last four games. There will also be a place in the matchday squad for Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford was expected to come too soon for £55 million summer signing Mason Mount but, according to The Athletic, the England international will be on the bench at least in another major boost to Ten Hag’s hopes of a positive end to a rather traumatic campaign.
Mason Mount back for Manchester United
Mount has only featured 12 times since joining from Chelsea last summer. He has missed the last 21 games, including December’s 0-0 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield.
“We had a good week,” Ten Hag smiles in conversation with the club’s official website, the Dutchman usually the bearer of bad news at his press conferences. “All the players you mentioned (Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and Hojlund), they returned on the pitch. Partly in the start of the week and, (on Friday), we had a session that they were all training.
“I think (they will be available for Liverpool). We have, tomorrow, one session. We have to see how they recover from this tomorrow. But it looks good.
“Also, what was very good was Mason Mount trained all week with us, the first part of the week also partly. But then, also he had some full sessions with us. So it’s looking good.”
Former Chelsea ace has missed last 21 games
Mount was not only one of United’s big-money signings last summer, he is also integral to Ten Hag’s gameplan.
The midfielder’s energy on and off the ball, plus his vision and his eye for goal, makes Mount perfect for one of those attacking number eight roles in Ten Hag’s three-man midfield. The former Vitesse Arnhem loanee – who the United boss came up against in the Eredivisie – also possesses the box-to-box athleticism Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat are not capable of replicating.
There will, however, be no Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw or Tyrell Malacia against Liverpool. Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir have also picked up knocks.
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