Mason Mount has seven games to remind Manchester United why they signed him

If not now for Mason Mount, then when? The news that Christian Eriksen is the latest Manchester United player requiring a spell on the sidelines should hand the £60million summer signing a route back into the team.

It's been a forgettable five months for Mount since he swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford. Restored to a permanent role in central midfield, he had a flat pre-season and carried that form into the campaign. He has yet to leave an impact on any game and in 626 minutes there has been just one assist.

Mount's only start in the seven games before the October and November international break came in the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United. He was signed as the final piece of the puzzle in midfield for Erik ten Hag, but has lost his place in the team after just six competitive starts.

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International football has hardly given him an outlet either. He hasn't made an England squad since he joined United and hasn't played for his country since the World Cup a year ago. His form in his final season at Chelsea was disappointing but a move away was supposed to rejuvenate him.

When United beat competition from Arsenal and Liverpool to sign Mount for Chelsea in July, Ten Hag explained how he saw a player he had followed since a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem six years ago fitting into his side.

"His vision is to play the offensive [midfield role]. But also he wants to be multi-functional, he wants to be complete," he said.

"When you're playing in midfield, you have to attack, but you also you have to defend. I'm sure he will bring dynamism into our game and that was one of our