Man Utd play Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend, meaning Mason Mount is set to return to his former club.
Mount has hardly played since returning from injury.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
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"Mason, what's the score?" taunted Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge when Manchester United trailed by two goals in April 2024.
As Mount prepared to be introduced from the bench, he was heavily booed by each corner of the ground. Erik ten Hag wagged his finger at Mount, as if to say: "Listen to that. Go out there and show what you can do."
United collapsed during added time on that evening, conceding twice to lose the game, and Mount couldn't return to the dressing room quickly enough as 'One Step Beyond' by Madness blasted out.
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Mount returned to Stamford Bridge for the second time last year, starting as United suffered a 1-0 defeat. He was one of the better performers, recording United's only shot on target in the first half, and received a pat on the back from Ruben Amorim as he was substituted in the 70th minute.
By that stage of the campaign, United's focus was on preparing for the Europa League final, but the result was disappointing, particularly for Mount, who copped flak again from Chelsea supporters.
When Mount returns to Stamford Bridge this weekend, he will hope it's third time lucky. The bookmakers have made Chelsea the clear favourites, but any punter lumping cash on Liam Rosenior's side is either brave or foolish.
The catch for Mount is a victory for United may be secured without his contribution, given he's made just two brief cameos from the bench since Michael Carrick's appointment as interim head coach.
Mount was producing the most consistent performances he'd managed for United until he picked up an injury in December. He returned against Burnley in January, made a cameo against Manchester City (Carrick's first game in charge) and was on the bench against Arsenal at the Emirates before being ruled out for another six games with a knock.
Mount pictured in Ireland earlier this month.
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The midfielder was an unused substitute against Aston Villa last month and made a cameo against Bournemouth; however, he was an unused substitute again for the 2-1 defeat to Leeds at the beginning of the week.
A change of manager, two small injuries at the wrong time and a change of formation have seen Mount slip into the background, despite his stock at United being at its highest before Christmas.
Mount picked up the man of the match award after beating Wolves 4-1 at Molineux, leading Amorim to say during his post-match press conference: "He can defend, he can attack. He’s a very, very good player."
Mount said: “I’ve had setbacks, I’ve had difficult times, I feel now I’m ready to keep pushing on and building on these performances. Getting in the goals, that’s the most important thing as a forward player.”
His goal at Molineux was his third of the campaign. Mount scored against Sunderland in October, putting United 1-0 up, and scored against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in November, finding the bottom corner to fire United into a 2-1 lead.
Mount had scored important goals, and his status in the dressing room was on the rise. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he described himself as the "catalyst" for the team's press, and appeared to be thriving with the responsibility of driving his teammates with his energy.
Mount after scoring the winner at Selhurst in November.
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Mount played down his relationship with Amorim, saying it was "good" but not any more than the "other lads" had with him, but the Portuguese's departure was a blow considering his formation suited him so well.
Amorim played with two No.10s. Carrick has switched to three in midfield, playing with a single No.10, and Bruno Fernandes has that role locked down.
Mount's injuries have meant he's hardly played for Carrick, although United's interim boss has praised his versatility, and he has already shown he can force himself into the starting team after winning a starting spot earlier in the season.
"It’s great to have Mason back, to miss him so quickly after we came in and came together,” Carrick said before Leeds. “So, he’s obviously had what, nearly two, three weeks of building up and finding his rhythm, finding his sharpness. So yeah, it’s great to have him back.”
Carrick added: “I think his versatility is a big strength. He can play through the middle, he can play in midfield, he can play wide, and he can do so many different roles. And he’s certainly a team player.
“He’s a player that I really like, and there’s loads to come from Mason, we’ve just got to give him the time to get fit again and be patient with that, but he’s certainly in a good place right now.”
During the post-season tour last season, Mount got all of the dressing room to sign his shirt, and he gifted it to Hong Kong coach Lee Hayes, a Chelsea fan who had tragically lost his girlfriend to cancer two weeks earlier.
More recently, Mount joined a campaign to raise money to bring cinema to patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and the Manchester Royal Infirmary, helping to put smiles on the faces of sick children.
Mount stops to sign autographs and take photos with young supporters outside Carrington, and showed his humility when he laughed off a confetti birthday card from a fan that exploded in his car.
There is an edge to Mount when he crosses the white line, though. Amorim loved his hunger and how he threw himself into duels, and he said that he could see how much Mount wanted to succeed.
Aston Villa were linked with a move for Mount last summer, but sources rubbished the report and said he was happy at United. It's understood the 26-year-old is settled in Manchester and desperate to play regular football.
Mount looked in high spirits during United's training camp in the Republic of Ireland last week, and he is fully fit after that extended break, so he will be desperate to get a chance against Chelsea on Saturday.
Stamford Bridge hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Mount since his departure in 2023, but that could change this weekend.