MU beat Newcastle 1-0: Ruben Amorim worried about Mason Mount.
Despite beating Newcastle 1-0 thanks to a goal from Patrick Dorgu, Man United continued to face a personnel crisis as Mason Mount suffered an injury and had to leave the field early.
Manchester United concluded the Boxing Day period with a narrow 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford. However, the joy for Ruben Amorim's team was not complete as midfielder Mason Mount became the latest name to join the growing list of injured players.
Concerns from Mason Mount
New signing Patrick Dorgu's solitary goal secured a hard-fought three points for the Red Devils, but the focus after the match shifted to Mason Mount's health. The English midfielder was forced to leave the field shortly after the first-half break.
Speaking to the media, coach Ruben Amorim confirmed that his player felt unwell during halftime. The Portuguese strategist stated:"He wasn't feeling well at halftime. Mount wanted to continue playing in the second half, but we couldn't risk losing another player."
This is worrying news for fans of the Old Trafford club. Mason Mount has a poor injury history since arriving at Manchester. In the last two Premier League seasons, the former Chelsea star has only started a mere 13 games.
Severe personnel crisis at Old Trafford.
The victory against Newcastle showed Manchester United's efforts to overcome difficulties amidst a severely depleted squad. Before kick-off, the team was missing a number of key players such as captain Bruno Fernandes and young talent Kobbie Mainoo.
In defense, center-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt are still recovering from injuries. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have both left the team to participate in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Currently, in midfield, coach Amorim only has Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte as the two rare players fit to play. This shortage of personnel poses a huge challenge for the Portuguese strategist in rotating the squad during the most demanding phase of the season.
Position in the race for the top 4
With the valuable three points just earned, Manchester United are now fifth in the Premier League table with 29 points. Although they are in a favorable position in the race for a Champions League spot, experts believe that MU's competitiveness will be significantly affected if they do not soon strengthen their squad.
Recently, the Old Trafford club has been linked with Everton's James Garner. However, bringing in new signings in the January transfer window is never an easy task. Ruben Amorim will have to prove his tactical prowess to steer Manchester United through the current injury crisis.
