“I don’t know why he keeps supporting the biggest flop in the team right now but he needs to let go of him. He has not shown signs of improvement and he is not going to improve the nearest future” – Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Erik ten Hag is fully backing a Manchester United player who has faced criticism, with the manager keen on making him a key part of the team.

Manchester United spent £60 million to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea in the summer of 2023. However, the 25-year-old has yet to live up to his hefty price tag.

Last season, Mount made just five Premier League starts, hampered by injury problems. He picked up another injury in United’s 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last month, causing him to miss matches against Liverpool and Southampton.

Though he’s returned to full training, manager Erik ten Hag is being cautious with his reintroduction to the squad.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Ten Hag is offering strong support for Mount and sees him as a key player for the team. Romano stated on his YouTube channel, “The feeling internally is that Mount has been injured for a while, but Erik ten Hag continues to back him.”

“Manchester United invested around £65 million in Mason Mount, but he has faced numerous injuries, including one at the start of this season. He is now back in training.

Erik ten Hag continues to fully support Mount. He is regularly speaking with him, showing trust in his abilities. Ten Hag wants to give him time to recover fully, avoid further injuries, and get back to playing consistently at his best level.

Ten Hag is determined to provide Mount with opportunities, viewing him as a key player for the long term. The club was very pleased with his work during pre-season.”

Although Mount hasn’t yet met fan expectations since his high-profile move to Manchester last year, he still has great potential and could succeed with the Red Devils.

The England international started United’s first two matches this season. While he didn’t score or assist, his pressing was evident. United appeared to lose control when he was substituted at halftime against Brighton.

Ten Hag’s faith in Mount means he will likely get many first-team chances this season, but staying fit is crucial given his history with injuries.