Amid the chaos and euphoria of Manchester United‘s thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool final week, it could have unsurprisingly gone underneath the radar that summer season signing, Mason Mount made his return to the facet following a prolonged stint out with harm, the Englishman searching for to make up for misplaced time following a wretched debut marketing campaign at Previous Trafford.
The 25-year-old’s final outing had really come on Remembrance Day again in November, with there more likely to have been a sure few who had even forgotten he was on the books at United, such has been his minimal influence so far.
With one help and no targets to point out for his efforts to this point, the £55m signing – who has been restricted to only 11 appearances throughout all fronts following his arrival from Chelsea – appears to be like to be heading the best way of many who’ve gone earlier than him within the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period, with whispers rife that he might even be the ‘new Donny van de Beek‘.
That stated, it’s far too quickly to put in writing off the playmaker simply but, with Erik ten Hag probably having the means to lastly get Mount firing in his beginning lineup…
How Man Utd can get the perfect out of Mason Mount
Signed by Ten Hag with the intention of working as an attacking quantity eight, it already appears to be like as if such a plan is unlikely to work, with a midfield pairing of Casemiro and Mount notably “torn to shreds” on the opening weekend in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers – as per membership legend, Gary Neville.
With Kobbie Mainoo now within the image, nonetheless, the dynamic could have considerably modified, with United possessing a extra cellular asset to carry the fort in entrance of the again 4, somewhat than the ageing Brazilian.
There can be advantage in trialling a partnership of Mount and Mainoo, with Bruno Fernandes forward of them, though maybe a wiser answer can be for the skipper to be relocated as an alternative, dropping deeper to permit the previous Blues star to thrive in a quantity ten berth.
The Portsmouth-born ace has usually operated in a extra superior position or on the flanks in his profession up to now – reaching double figures for targets and assists within the league in 2021/22 – therefore why it could seem silly to attempt to repurpose him as a box-to-box asset when that won’t play to his strengths.
As a substitute, due to this fact, Fernandes – who has been dubbed a “wizard” by Statman Dave – might tackle that deep-lying position alongside Mainoo, having already proven flashes of why that may very well be his long-term dwelling.
Why Bruno Fernandes might thrive subsequent to Mainoo
The Portuguese magician has been United’s go-to man within the playmaking berth for over 4 years now, boasting a shocking haul of 72 targets and 63 assists in 223 video games in all competitions following his arrival from Sporting CP.
The £52m-rated ace has, nonetheless, seen his numbers dip since Ten Hag’s appointment, together with his report of 47 targets and assists in 97 video games far under what he achieved underneath Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the identical variety of video games (79 targets and assists).
|
Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd report by supervisor |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Video games |
Targets |
Assists |
Yellow Playing cards |
|
|
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer |
97 |
22 |
25 |
23 |
|
Michael Carrick |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ralf Rangnick |
26 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
|
Erik ten Hag |
97 |
44 |
35 |
13 |
|
Complete |
223 |
72 |
63 |
43 |
That would then imply it could be price trialling another person, like Mount, because the ‘ten’, with the 29-year-old dropping deeper, together with his compatriot Carlos Carvahal beforehand outlining what Fernandes’ greatest place really is:
“However he’s not a ten, he’s an 8. He’s a box-to-box participant who understands very nicely the sport. He would not simply play. He understands every thing that occurs round him.”
The one-time Udinese man additionally solely not too long ago admitted that he felt his most “full” efficiency ever got here whereas taking part in as a ‘six’ in opposition to Everton final season, having additionally hinted that he could drop additional again as his profession progresses.
Ten Hag too seemingly agrees with that sentiment having described his captain because the “greatest participant on the pitch” throughout that win over the Toffees, with it price repeating that strategy now that Mount is match and accessible as soon as once more.
With Fernandes – who has created essentially the most possibilities within the division this season – spraying passes and wreaking havoc from deep, Mount can supply the excessive urgent, relentless presence forward of him, having been hailed for his “work ethic” by Rio Ferdinand.
Associated
Man Utd had been rinsed by flop who earned greater than Hojlund & Fernandes
The exceptionally gifted star drained the Purple Devils and provided little or no in return.
That change would come at a value for United’s nine-goal hero, Scott McTominay, but if the membership are to start to see the fruits of their £55m funding, one thing – or somebody – certainly wants to offer.