Mason Mount is ready to be a key member of Chelsea’s first-team next season, according to Oliver Harbord.
The Football.London Chelsea correspondent was writing an article on what he had witnessed in the Blues’ 4-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic on their tour of Ireland and could not stop waxing lyrical about the young midfield prospect and believes he looked the most ready to make the step up.
He wrote: “Mount looks like he has already grown into a fully-fledged senior footballer after just one season in the Championship. His creativity is excellent, he is comfortable with the one-touch football, his finish was wonderfully taken and his energy was right up there.
“But one of the big factors was the fact that he was the main man when it came to set-pieces throughout the first half. Taking every corner and the majority of the free-kicks, Mount’s delivery was excellent. Willian is the usual taker, however, his can be very up and down, while Eden Hazard was the back up as well.
“But Mount is ready to play for Chelsea, you have to believe that. And with Lampard at the helm, you can only feel he is going to get his chances.”
Chelsea obviously rate the England Under-21 international very highly as they have just rewarded him with a new five-year contract ahead of the club’s pre-season trip to Japan (club’s official website).
Mount was a standout performer for Lampard during their time together at Derby County last season, as he helped them reach the play-off final, the pair’s final game for the club.
The 20-year-old managed to record 11 goals and provide six assists in his 44 matches (Transfermarkt), going on to make an average of 2.5 shots and 1.9 key passes per game in his 38 outings in the Championship (WhoScored) and further emphasising the point that Harbord made regarding his creativity and finishing.
Having worked with Lampard, it would seemingly put him in a good position to make a breakthrough into the first-team next season, should he be handed the chance and impress in training sessions.
Indeed, that opportunity may have already presented itself as well. PhysioRoom.com expect Ruben Loftus-Cheek to be out on the sidelines until the beginning of November with his current Achilles injury; therefore, that would potentially allow Mount to play in 10 Premier League matches and the first three or four Champions League group matches (dependent on scheduling).
It is not difficult to understand as to why Harbord wrote what he did about Mount being Chelsea ready and he would appear to have a rather valid point.
The 20-year-old showed he had all the skill and potential to make it in the top levels of the game with his performances for Derby last season (talkSPORT were raving about his displays in December and tipping him for the top) and reuniting with Lampard at the Blues could be the next step his career requires at this present moment.
Whether he gets that opportunity remains to be seen, however, with games coming up against Barcelona, Reading, Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Monchengladbach before the Premier League season restarts and Loftus-Cheek expected to be on the sidelines for a few more months, Mount will have plenty of time to stake his claim for a place in the first-team at Stamford Bridge.
The fact that Lampard allegedly ordered Chelsea to offer Mount a new deal (The Sun) is arguably a vote of confidence and should bode well for his chances.
Chelsea fans, do you think Mount is ready to play for the club’s first-team? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them in the comments section below!
About the Author
