They come around fast, don't they? Manchester United have already played one of their pre-season friendlies as they took on Leeds United in Oslo. Given Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2022/23, it may be the last time they face each other for a little while.
This game was the first chance for fans to see Mason Mount in a red shirt and he started the game. It was a team made up primarily of youngsters, meaning that Mount was one of the biggest names there. This is the major perk of getting business done early, something United do not always manage.
They are able to use him as much as they like in pre-season so that he is fully embedded into the squad by the time the new Premier League season begins next month.
There are a lot of friendlies to play before the competitive games, but how did Mount get on in his first outing for his new team following the £55m from Chelsea?
Mason Mount's performance vs Leeds
Mason Mount started the game in Oslo against Leeds and he was deployed in a three-man midfield alongside Hannibal Mejbri and just ahead of Kobbie Mainoo in a variant of a typical 4-3-3. The starting lineup featured a blend of youngsters and senior players returning from injury.
Man United starting XI vs Leeds: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Fernandez; Mainoo, Mejbri, Mount; Diallo, Sancho, Forsun
United were immediately on the front foot in this game and the first major chance came when Mount split the Leeds defence with a sweeping low pass out to Amad Diallo on the right wing. The chance was eventually wasted but it showed the range of passing that Mount possesses.
His next major involvement came as United suddenly launched a press as Leeds passed the ball around the back. Mount picked the pocket of a defender and from just under 30 yards out, he spotted the chance to lob the goalkeeper. His inventive effort was not far away from perfection as it hit the roof of the net. The confidence and desire was clear.
He also seemed to be in charge of taking corners which is a glimpse into what his role at United could be this season. Overall, there is never too much to read into from a positional perspective when the majority of the first-team was not playing, but Mount was lively, inventive and clearly keen to impress.
"I really liked that role [deeper midfield] Being able to drop in and get on the ball and start the play from a bit deeper, but also having that freedom to be able to get forward and get in the box," Mount said to MUTV after the game.
Man United's pre-season fixtures
Manchester United are in for a very busy pre-season as there are another seven games still to play before the Premier League fixtures get underway. United managed to win the game against Leeds 2-0 thanks to goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill in the second, so they are off to a great start.
The next stop is Edinburgh where Mount could well find himself starting again, with Lyon the opponent. There are some very big opponents coming up for United so it will be fascinating to see what kind of position Mount takes up when the likes of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes are back in the picture.
All times BST.
How to watch Manchester United pre-season 2023/24
All of United's pre-season fixtures are available to watch on the club's dedicated channel, MUTV. A range of devices can access the games via MUTV, ManUtd.com or their app service. Fans can sign up for the service here.
This article was originally published on 90min as How Mason Mount fared in his first game for Man Utd.
