Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that he is planning to use Mason Mount against Leicester City on Sunday, with the attacker in line to make his first appearance in three months.
Mount was back in training with the Red Devils on Wednesday after recovering from his latest injury problem, but Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad came too soon for the club's number seven.
The 26-year-old is set to be involved against Leicester, though, with Amorim revealing that Mount will be named on the bench with a view to be involved at some stage in the second period.
"I think he is going to [be on] the bench," Amorim told reporters following the team's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad. "We will see, but we need every player and if he is fit, I am going to play him. He cannot play too many minutes, just five minutes of Mason Mount is perfect."
Mount in line for Man United return against Leicester
Amorim has not hidden the fact that he is a huge fan of Mount, with the Englishman possessing the skillset to potentially thrive as a number 10 in the Portuguese's 3-4-3 system.
The Man United head coach has said that he is fully aware how much Mount has suffered during his injury problems, but a return to the field against Leicester would give him a huge boost ahead of the March international break.
"I already said, I really love Mason Mount. I see him and I know how he suffers," Amorim added.
"He does everything right. He eats right, his physical aspect is perfect, he is trying too much and maybe he is thinking too much about everything. He was European champion, he is a talent and he is a really talented player.
"When a player does everything like he does, he will always have the support of everybody here in the club.
"So we will try to manage the load and you already saw some players who have a lot of problems during one time, in some moments, he can stay fit and I believe a lot in Mason Mount and we need players like Mason Mount."
Will Maguire be available against Leicester?
Harry Maguire has missed Man United's last three matches with an unspecified issue, but there is a chance that the experienced centre-back will be able to face his former club this weekend.
"Harry Maguire, who we tried not to risk, we will see for Sunday. We need all the players and I think against Lyon [in the Europa League quarter-finals] it will be a different kind of game," said Amorim.
"The physicality is going to be a different game, more demanding in that aspect and we have a lot of difficult games in the Premier League.
"With the different competitions, we have to rotate. We are risking some players. For example, Casemiro, he was so tired.
"We didn't want to risk [Manuel] Ugarte. Because today was a decision: in one competition, Ugarte wanted to stay here. We have Mason Mount who will return really slow, Kobbie [Mainoo] will maybe return in a few weeks, I don't know for sure."
Man United are currently 14th in the Premier League table, and they will be heading to a Leicester outfit that sit 19th, six points behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the battle to stay in the division. body check tags ::