Ruben Amorim laughs on the training ground.
Ruben Amorim will have aspirations of getting a regular tune out of Mason Mount in 2025/26.
After joining Manchester United from Chelsea for an initial fee of £55million in July 2023, Mason Mount wasted no time in declaring his best position.
"I've always seen myself as a midfielder or a No.8 that can obviously get forward, attack, try and score goals and create goals," he told MUTV.
"But I am also able to do the other side as well and defend and help the team when we're under pressure."
United signed Mount to add energy to their midfield and become a long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen in the No.8 position. The Dane excelled in his debut season at Old Trafford in 2022/23 but it was clear United needed younger legs in that area of the team.
Operating in a 4-3-3 formation under former manager Erik ten Hag at the time, Mount was expected to join forces with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in United's first-choice midfield. Casemiro had enjoyed an outstanding first season at the club after arriving from Real Madrid in August 2022 and was, at the time, one of the very first names on the teamsheet.
However, Mount's first season in M16 was ravaged by injuries, restricting him to just 20 appearances in all competitions. He played just 14 times in the Premier League, making five starts.
As a result, it was impossible to make a firm judgement on if he would be the ideal long-term replacement for Eriksen. It was hoped the 2024/25 campaign would be much kinder to him on the injury front.
However, the fact he only managed to make 26 appearances in the most recent campaign meant that wish failed to become a reality. A serious hamstring issue sidelined him between mid-December and the beginning of April.
Despite his unavailability, he regularly earned praise from United head coach Ruben Amorim, who declared his admiration for the England international after replacing Ten Hag last November.
Ruben Amorim is a huge fan of Mason Mount. (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images.)
He said: "Mason Mount… I have to tell you I love that kid. You can look in his eyes that he wants this so bad. And this is the most important thing for me.
"I know he was suffering from injuries, he was not on the pitch, but now he's trying to stay fit and we hope he can continue to be fit, to show all the talent that he's shown, for example, in Chelsea."
Well-versed in a three-at-the-back formation from his time at Stamford Bridge, there was always a chance Mount could flourish under Amorim, and there was evidence of that towards the end of the campaign.
In Amorim's system, Mount is deployed as one of the two No.10s and not as a No.8. He is a perfect fit the former Sporting Lisbon boss, although he was originally signed to play as a No.8, albeit in a 4-3-3.
Having already added Matheus Cunha to their ranks this summer and attempting to sign Bryan Mbeumo, United could start the new season with a plethora of options to occupy either of the playmaker spots. Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad are all capable of playing as a No.10.
If signed, Mbeumo could be a shoo-in to occupy the right-sided No.10 spot amid the expectation Cunha will command the alternative No.10 spot, meaning Mount may not be a guaranteed starter.
Nevertheless, Amorim values him enormously and he is a good option to be able to bring off the bench. He fits the system perfectly and Mount will be hungry to make up for lost time.