Mason Mount’s turbulent season took another frustrating turn as the Manchester United midfielder hobbled off just 12 minutes into the Manchester derby on Sunday.
The England international appeared to sustain the injury off the ball at the Etihad, and it was immediately clear he would need to be replaced.
This latest setback adds to a growing list of fitness issues for Mount, who has already missed significant game time this season due to hamstring, head, and other unspecified injuries.
Sunday’s clash with Premier League champions Manchester City marked just his fourth Premier League start of the campaign.
As Mount limped off the field, visibly distraught, he was replaced by young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Sky Sports commentator and former United star Gary Neville noted Mount’s dejected expression, likening it to his own struggles with recurring injuries late in his career.
“When you’re losing a player 12 minutes into a match, it’s not good,” Neville remarked. “For Mason Mount, it’s even tougher—he’s young, but you can see that resigned look on his face. It’s demoralizing when you’ve spent so much time rehabilitating.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for Mount, whose United career seemed to be stabilizing under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Since joining from Chelsea, Mount has struggled to find consistency, largely due to his fitness issues. Amorim, however, has been vocal about his admiration for the midfielder.
“Mason Mount… I love that kid,” Amorim said last month. “You can see in his eyes that he wants this so badly. He fits perfectly into the system, and I have two positions in mind for him. He should be very happy here.”
Amorim has emphasized managing Mount’s minutes carefully, grouping him with other players like Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia who have time limits due to injury risks.
After a recent defeat to Arsenal, the manager explained his cautious rotation strategy: “It’s not about changing for the sake of it but keeping the squad fit. If there’s even a slight risk of injury, players won’t play. We need everyone ready to contribute and improve the squad.”
Mount’s latest injury is a significant blow, raising questions about how he can overcome this persistent cycle and get his career at Manchester United back on track.