Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Mason Mount "has to fight" to regain his spot in the team's first XI amid a difficult period for the summer arrival.
The 24-year-old has struggled to make his mark for the Red Devils since his high-profile move from Chelsea during the recent transfer window.
Mount has only managed one assist in 11 appearances for the club in all competitions, while he has not started in the Premier League since before the October international break.
The England international was absent for a spell earlier this season due to a muscular problem, and Ten Hag has said that the injury 'stopped his integration process'.
However, the Man United head coach remains confident that the attacker will develop into an important player for the club moving forward.
© Reuters
"He had some starts. Also recently, last week against Newcastle [United], but there are always reasons and sometimes, like the injury [at start of the season] and other players doing well, then you have to wait for your time to play," said the Dutchman during his press conference on Friday.
"It hasn't changed at all [expectations of Mount], but he started the season, then he got injured, so that is the worst moment for a new player to get injured because it stops the integration process and that was a setback for us all. Now he has to fight to get his place back."
Mount has been a late substitute in his team's last two matches against Fulham and Copenhagen in the Premier League and Champions League respectively.
The attacker will be bidding to return to the starting XI when the Red Devils continue their Premier League campaign at home to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon.
© Reuters
One player who will not be available for the clash with Luton is Jonny Evans, though, with the centre-back picking up a muscular problem during the Champions League clash with Copenhagen.
Man United are still unsure of the extent of the problem, but Ten Hag has ruled him out of the fixture with the promoted outfit at Old Trafford.
"So we don't, in this moment, have a full assessment done. We didn't finish it, we don't have the details so far, but for tomorrow he's out," said the manager.
Ten Hag must therefore decide whether to reintroduce Raphael Varane into the starting team alongside Harry Maguire, or recall Victor Lindelof, with the Swede recently recovering from illness.
As well as Evans, Man United will be missing Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Amad Diallo through injury on Saturday, while Jadon Sancho is still not involved with the first team.
