Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Mason Mount was substituted in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion due to injury.
The former Chelsea man started a second successive Premier League fixture for the Red Devils at the Amex, having completed 61 minutes of the victory over Fulham on matchday one.
Mount's debut campaign at Old Trafford was blighted by fitness problems, and he managed to impose himself on the game on Saturday, operating in the number 10 position behind Bruno Fernandes.
The 25-year-old's afternoon only lasted until half time, when he was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee in a change that raised a few eyebrows, as Mount largely impressed during the first period down south.
However, speaking to the media at full time, Ten Hag confirmed that Mount's change was not tactical in nature, as the injury-plagued playmaker had picked up another unspecified issue in the opening period.
© Imago
Ten Hag reveals "forced" Mount substitution
The Dutchman did not elaborate on Mount's issue, though, and he is unsure how long the England international could be sidelined for, saying: "It was forced.
"He had an issue, he mentioned an issue and I didn't want to take a risk. I don't know how much of a worry it is in this moment. But we have a good bench. If you can bring Zirkzee and don't hesitate, bring him off and you bring a player who has an impact and we see Josh had a great game.
"We have a squad, from the squad we will pick the best team. We have the starters, the finishers. Also today, the finishers had a good impact: when Garna scores this (disallowed) goal, Scott doing well, Zirkzee had an impact, Matthijs de Ligt. They all did good but we need more than 11 players to be successful.
Prior to Mount's enforced withdrawal, Man United were haunted by an old flame at the Amex, as Danny Welbeck capitalised on some lackadaisical defending to score his 100th career goal.
Ten Hag's men found themselves level on the hour mark, though, as Amad Diallo's strike took a wicked deflection off of Jan Paul van Hecke and deceived Jason Steele, but their joy was short-lived.
Ten Hag points finger at "three players" after Man United lose at Brighton
© Imago
After an Alejandro Garnacho strike was disallowed for Zirkzee being in an offside position when the ball cannoned in off his knee, Man United succumbed to an injury-time winner from Joao Pedro, who headed in under no pressure from Ten Hag's defenders.
The Brazilian was completely unmarked as he headed home to seal Brighton's second win of the season, and Ten Hag took aim at "three players" for failing to keep Pedro in check or stop the supply from Simon Adingra.
"We didn't stop the cross. There were three players. [Adingra is a] right-footed player, send him down the line, send him wide instead of letting him come in and let the cross. We have, of course, to talk about this," Ten Hag added.
Man United will endeavour to make amends when welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford for a blockbuster contest next Sunday afternoon, and Ten Hag also explained Jadon Sancho's omission from the matchday squad for the loss to Brighton.
Ben Knapton
