Mason Mount has suffered yet another injury setback, limping out of the Manchester derby on Sunday after just 12 minutes.
The Manchester United midfielder went down off the ball early in the game at the Etihad and it was quickly apparent that he needed to be replaced.
The nature of the injury suffered by the England international was not clear, having already missed games this season due to hamstring, head and other unspecified issues.
Sunday’s clash with the Premier League champions was just Mount’s fourth top flight start of the season and he is sidelined again.
Kobbie Mainoo replaced the former Chelsea star, with Mount limping down the tunnel.
As he was down injured, former Manchester United star Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: ‘It’s not good. When you’re losing a player 12 minutes into a match, but for Mason Mount, he’s got that resigned look on his face of a player who has been in the gym rehabilitating long enough.
‘At the age of 32-35 I kept getting reoccurring injuries and it’s demoralising, you feel like you’re letting everybody down. He’s young.’
The latest injury will be a crushing blow for Mount after his Manchester United career looked to be getting back on track under Ruben Amorim.
He has struggled with injuries since joining from Chelsea and has failed to hit top form as a result, but the new manager spoke glowingly of him on his arrival last month.
‘Mason Mount… I have to tell you I love that kid,’ said Amorim. ‘You can look in his eyes that he wants this so bad. This is the most important thing.
‘He played in this system, so it’s perfect for him… I have two positions for Mason Mount, so he should be very happy!’
Amorim did say that he is managing Mount’s minutes, though, with the midfielder one of a number of players who have ‘time limits’ as he explained his rotation policy.
‘It’s not because I like to change all the time but because I like to have all the squad fit,’ Amorim said after defeat to Arsenal.
‘So for example, Harry Maguire has a time limit, Tyrell Malacia has a time limit, Mason Mount has a time limit, Leny Yoro has a real time limit.
‘So we have to manage winning games, a different methodology, different way of playing, more meters to press.
‘Tomorrow we have to assess the guys and [if] they have a little bit risk of injury, they will not play. So we have to have everyone to work, to play and to improve the squad.’