12 July 2023 , 17:06
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Mason Mount showed why Erik ten Hag was so determined to sign him with an impressive debut for Manchester United.
Ten Hag said Mount, a £60million signing from Chelsea, would bring some much-needed dynamism to United's midfield, and the England star endorsed his manager's pre-match words.
In a United line-up made up largely of youth and fringe players, with the exception of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Jadon Sancho, new signing Mount was the star attraction.
Mount, wearing United's iconic No.7 shirt, played with enterprise and endeavour, showcasing the qualities Ten Hag is convinced can make him a key player as he continues his rebuild.
Deployed alongside youngster Kobbie Mainoo in a midfield two, Mount was United's stand-out player, effective on the ball and industrious off it, even though he was restricted to 45 minutes.
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Mount, 24, made his first significant contribution after just four minutes, finding Amad Diallo with a sublime pass in behind the Leeds defence, although the move ultimately broke down.
Moments later, Mount was once again the architect for United, finding Amad with another intelligent pass, the passage of play ending with a shot saved from Hannibal Mejbri.
Mount's relentless work ethic and willingness to press opponents when out of possession was as much a factor in Ten Hag signing him as his ability to score and create goals.
Mason Mount in action after making his first start for Manchester UnitedNever was that more evident than in the 11th minute, when Mount seized upon hesitancy from young Leeds defender Jeremiah Mullen, closing him down before dispossessing him.
Having won the ball, Mount attempted an audacious 20-yard chip over Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson and executed it superbly, only just missing as the ball nestled on the roof of the net.
With Bruno Fernandes not yet back for pre-season, Mount took charge of set-pieces, his ability from free-kicks and corners giving United another valuable option from such situations.
Before the game, Ten Hag outlined what he expected from Mount when he said: “I'm sure he will contribute to the success of Manchester United, because he's a quality player and his ambition is to play offensively.
“But also he wants to be multi-functional, he wants to be complete, and when you're playing in midfield, you have to attack, but you also have to defend.
“I'm sure he will bring a dynamic into our game, and that was one of our analyses or conclusions we made after last season – we need more dynamic in the midfield department.”
As well as Mount's promising debut, United's first pre-season encounter saw the return of defender Martinez, who missed the final 12 games of last season with a broken metatarsal.
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Mount looks to make an impact for United against LeedsLike Mount, Martinez was restricted to one half, as Ten Hag made 11 changes at the break. Young forward Noam Emeran, 20, gave United a 1-0 lead after 66 minutes with a composed finish, with Joe Hugill making it 2-0 with 10 minutes left.
United flew back to Manchester after the game, their pre-season continuing with a game against Lyon in Edinburgh on Wednesday, before travelling to the US for a two-week summer tour.
Before kick-off, both teams and sets of fans joined together in a minute's applause in memory of their former player, Gordon McQueen, who passed away last month aged 70.