Manchester United might still have a role in their best XI for forgotten man

Marcus Rashford’s brother has highlighted his absence in Germany, Jack Grealish’s cheerleaders lamented his omission before the England squad took off from Birmingham Airport and Gareth Southgate rued the unavailability of Kalvin Phillips.

Nobody has mentioned Mason Mount, a starter in the European Championship final three years ago. Mount has not played since England were ejected from the World Cup by France in December 2022 and his career has been 18 months of decline.

Naturally, Manchester United signed him a third of the way through this period. Then a gradual decline became steep.

Mount started once in the Premier League after October 7 and missed 32 of United’s 52 fixtures through injury. When Erik ten Hag confided to those at Carrington that certain players’ defeatist mindset contributed to their injuries, Mount was one who sprang to mind.

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Mount managed one goal and one assist. A potential breakthrough away to Brentford, where he put a rudderless United in front on 96 minutes, was quashed by a 99th minute equaliser. When Mount was eventually upgraded to starter, it was at Selhurst Park for the season’s nadir.

To compound Mount’s malaise, Bruno Fernandes has the Sir Matt Busby statue back in his abode and Kobbie Mainoo is the United fans’ darling. Both occupy positions eyed for Mount.

Should Fernandes, the club captain and standout performer of the post-Ferguson era, stay then Mount is not ousting him. Mainoo is the club’s poster boy with a central midfield spot reserved ad infinitum. One of the handful of respectable England