Mason Mount has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask about Manchester United form recently, including one supporter who asked why the midfielder is struggling to get minutes under head coach Michael Carrick.
Carrick is copping a bit of flak for his substitutions – or rather lack of them – in Monday’s 2-1 defeat by Leeds.
He did introduce Bryan Mbeumo and Diogo Dalot after 70 minutes, 14 minutes after Lisandro Martinez had been sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair, but after that there was nothing.
He had the option of adding Joshua Zirkzee and youngster Shea Lacey to his attack – and then there was the option of Mount.
The England international has now recovered from the knock that ruled him out for just over a month from the beginning of February.
Up until Christmas, Mount had become one of Ruben Amorim's key men, operating in one of those two number 10 slots behind a main striker. However, those positions do not exist under Carrick.
So far, the 27-year-old has managed just two single-minute substitute appearances under his new boss.
Carrick also spoke warmly about Mount before the Leeds fixture, which did not hint at any issue between the pair.
If we are being kind, it could be argued that having lost Martinez and with Manuel Ugarte playing in central defence, Carrick did not want to lose any more physicality by taking off Matheus Cunha – who was not that effective – or Benjamin Sesko – who was getting chances.
In addition, Casemiro had scored and taking Ugarte off would have meant playing three at the back, with Leny Yoro as the central element.
Neither of those options were ideal, but then again Manchester United were not in an ideal situation.
Mount heads back to his former club Chelsea on Saturday (20:00 BST) and he will be hoping he has more of a chance to make an impact at a ground he used to call home.
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