Paul Merson says Man Utd star must stop becoming the first player substituted off

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Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount has made a promising start to the season, simply by being fit.

After a season of injury woes, Mason Mount is back among the Manchester United starters. He managed this just five times in the Premier League in 2023/24.

Part of the challenge for Mount was finding a spot in the team, meaning that even when he was fully fit, he was often on the bench.

Mount started the Community Shield, and the Premier League opener, but he has been substituted in both games after an hour.

Paul Merson lays challenge to Mason Mount

Sky pundit and former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson says he would like to see more of Mason Mount, referencing his previous form at Chelsea, where he was a Champions League winner in 2021.

Merson has noted Mount’s early substitutions and challenged him to become more important, to prevent this happening.

He told SportsKeeda: “When the going gets tough for Manchester United, he’s usually the first to come off, and he has to work towards changing that.”

Merson added: “I am actually a big fan of Mount, but he needs a little bit of luck.”

Manchester United looking after Mason Mount

Mount is not the only one to be substituted after an hour in both matches, winger Amad Diallo has suffered the same fate.

From Mount’s perspective, he should not be too worried, in fact Manchester United are trying to do him a favour.

After his injury troubles last season, it would not have made sense to push him to play 90 minutes in the Premier League opener.

United must manage him carefully, looking at the long-term view, while there are also a number of other talent options pushing for minutes, including Alejandro Garnacho, who was on the bench.

Mount made a big impression for United in the opener, he was key to the team’s pressing game, making a league high ‘counter-pressures’ all weekend in just 60 minutes.

United actually struggled more in terms of allowing Fulham more opportunities after he went off, and it could be a mistake to leave him out this coming weekend.

As Merson notes, Mount can still do a little more, to try and make himself undroppable – but his fitness issues from last season are also clearly part of the reason he’s come off early.