Mason Mount’s Manchester United future is uncertain after a number of injury issues during his Old Trafford career so far, and Michael Carrick’s thoughts on the midfielder are said to be clear
Mason Mount.(Image: Getty Images)
Michael Carrick’s plans for Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount could be clear with the England international facing a big summer.
Carrick’s permanent spell got off to a flying start with a 3-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, as the 27-year-old received just his second start since the United great arrived. The Athletic report that the new full-time boss thinks Mount’s positional flexibility will make him an asset to the squad for their quest in four competitions next season.
The former Chelsea man hasn’t managed to hit the heights at Old Trafford since his move from the capital but did strike form under former head coach, Ruben Amorim. But with United qualifying for the Champions League, their calendar next season will be busier and more gruelling, though with Carrick’s hopes for Mount, it poses as a good omen for the 27-year-old.
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Sunday’s outing was just Mount’s seventh under Carrick as he managed just 200 minutes for the club. Injuries and selection problems meant that Carrick’s focus on steering the club denied the midfielder the chance to continue his first-team involvement.
With the new United boss keen to utilise the 27-year-old, it puts to bed the idea of a summer sale this summer. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville named the 36-time England international as a player that the club could cash in on to raise funds for the summer following their home win against Liverpool.
“Michael Carrick will be very happy tonight but I think he will also be disappointed deep down that they haven’t gone on to win that game 3-0 or 4-0,” he said on his Sky Sports podcast.
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“They should have killed that game and put Liverpool to sleep because they were nowhere near this football match. He’s won the game and that’s the most important thing but Carrick won’t be fooled by some of what he saw in that second half.
“He will know he needs to rebuild the defence and midfield. If you’re going to play 4-4-2, which I am massively in favour of United doing, you have to have two very special players in there and defenders who can play one-on-one.
“You’re asking a lot of the players. I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100%, and they need two midfield players. They are the four priorities right now. They’re the players I would look at adding to this squad.”
He added: “Look, if you could then maybe trade Mason Mount for someone else who maybe can play in and out and can be a bit more flexible across the midfield and forward line then I would say go for a fifth.
“But if you can’t, I would say those four areas are the priority and they’ve got to be top-notch, those players.”
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