Bruno Fernandes might have finally broken his bizarre duck against Wolves with two goals, but it was another Manchester United attacker who came away with the Player of the Match award.
With the major caveats of the Molineux club possibly being the worst team in English top-flight history, and a very limited range to choose from, it was Mason Mount’s best performance for United since his arrival in 2023.
In this article, we’ll cover:
The former Chelsea man’s injury issues are well-known with his first two seasons at Old Trafford a near non-event, much like his last 12 months at Stamford Bridge, but he has enjoyed a relatively healthy campaign so far.
He grabbed his second goal in consecutive away Premier League games on Thursday night, helping United to coast past the bottom-placed side. The 4-1 win moved them into sixth place, and just a point outside the top four.
It also served as the latest reminder of just how good a player Mount was, and can still be for both club and country.
A perfect fit for Amorim’s system
Mount is one of the few players at United who seems completely suited to Ruben Amorim’s much-critiqued 3-4-3 system, having played in a similar set up in his best years at Chelsea.
He is a natural fit in the left no. 10 role, capable of both dovetailing with fellow forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and providing additional defensive help in midfield.
Amorim said as much in his post-match interview: “He can defend, he can attack, the quality when he touches the ball is really good, so it’s not a surprise for me. He’s a very, very good player.”
Mount’s excellent strike gave United some much-needed breathing room just after the hour and was a perfect example of what makes him such a valuable player when fit and in form. His run was intelligent, his timing perfect and his finish from Fernandes’ cross even better.
From here until he came off on 84 minutes, the 26-year-old played in a flow state against an admittedly beaten opposition, a rare occurrence for any United player in recent years.
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AFCON acts as an opportunity
Mount’s mini resurgence could not have come at a better time for both him and United with the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in less than two weeks. Amorim will be without top scorer Mbeumo as well as the rest of his right-flank in Amad and Noussair Mazraoui.
The three should be able to play in next Monday’s clash with Bournemouth but will miss up to six league games over the coming month, meaning Mount’s importance is only set to grow.
If fit, he will be a fixture in the lineup alongside Cunha and the soon-to-be returning Benjamin Sesko. He should also top his season totals at Old Trafford before Christmas.
Mount had already finally completed 90 minutes for United in his match-winning display at Palace – the first time he had done so in the Premier League since January 2023 against the same opposition – and starts and goals are next on the list.
His seven league starts this season are two more than his entire first season at Old Trafford, and just one less than his second, while he’s already scored more league goals this campaign than the previous two combined.
He needs just two more to better his tally across all competitions in the same period and will be looking to use his recent goals as a launchpad for a full return to his best form.
Could a reunion with Tuchel come in 2026?
Mount’s best seasons came under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, where he made over 50 appearances in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, winning the Champions League and providing the assist in the final in the former and hitting career-high goal and assist returns in the latter.
Is there an outside chance he could play himself into his former boss’ England plans by next summer? He has not played for the Three Lions since the last World Cup but Tuchel has made no secret of his admiration for Mount, like every other manager he has worked with.
If he can keep playing like this, who knows what 2026 might have in store for Mount.
