A number of Chelsea supporters have shared their hope in seeing James Maddison’s withdrawal from the England squad leading to positive news for Mason Mount – and Gareth Southgate handing the midfielder his first start.
Mount has earned two caps for the Three Lions after representing England at various junior age groups (TransferMarkt), but is yet to start a game under Southgate with his only outings to date coming from the bench.
Blues fans are now hopeful that Maddison withdrawing from the squad to face the Czech Republic and Bulgaria in Euro 2020 qualifiers will see that their man earns his first starting call, with the FA confirming on Thursday that the Leicester City star is out through illness.
Southgate is not expected to name a replacement for the Foxes ace (Sky Sports), and hailed Mount’s work this season at Stamford Bridge when defending his decision to not call on Maddison in previous fixtures.
“He only has to see the players that have been left out to recognise just to get in the squad is an achievement, and I don’t handle him any differently to any of the others, really,” he said.
“He seems to take all of that on board really well, so he’s playing very well, but so is Mount, so is [Jadon] Sancho and so are all of the others – that’s the conundrum.”
Southgate was also considering whether to start Mount or not before the FA announced Maddison’s withdrawal (Daily Mail), with the midfielder seen as a potential starting number 10 after dislodging Ross Barkley in the role at Stamford Bridge.
Portsmouth-born Mount has made 11 outings across all competitions for Chelsea since the return of Frank Lampard to West London, with the 20-year-old starting in each of his eight Premier League appearances, scoring four goals (TransferMarkt).
The 20-year-old has also played the tenth-most key passes of any player in the Premier League this season with 17 (WhoScored), six more than Maddison.
Here are some of the messages shared by Chelsea fans hopeful that Mount will be the man Southgate calls on in England’s upcoming fixtures…
He knows Mason Mount is there to play so he said he’s ill https://t.co/SOBLqJzjcw
— Lila (@_CFCLiam) October 10, 2019
Mason Mount
— itsbellascott (@Tom_Tom23BJ) October 10, 2019
Mount > Foden
— Damnbamby (@damnbamby) October 10, 2019
I’m the man that’s keeping Maddison out of England’s first team. pic.twitter.com/CluxcuSawA
— Hale (@CFCHale) October 10, 2019
Mason Mount stepping up like a boss.
— ‘deWale CFC™ (@iam_waley) October 10, 2019
Mason Mount is all we need
— Dominic (@domhooperr) October 10, 2019
Presence of Mount?
— OLOYE IGWE (@igweigwe71) October 10, 2019
— Corey (@Corey_CFC) October 10, 2019
There’s really nothing to consider Gareth!!….
— Dr. Darryl Brown (@Dareal_Browncom) October 10, 2019
