Can Mason Mount silence trolls? Chance for Chelsea midfielder to extend good Nations League run against Southampton
Trolls cannot have enough of Mason Mount. They don't need a reason to have a dig at Chelsea's attacking midfielder. Be it the gameplay or the sheer appearance, Mount finds himself in the center of a Trollfest almost regularly. However, the Blues fans will have every reason to celebrate if Mount continues his rich vein of form as they host Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (October 17). The 21-year-old has been a key figure in the Chelsea setup and his good run augurs well for the side.
Chelsea is currently seventh on the points table with two wins in their four games. Mount has one goal from three games. Things though have changed in one a span of a week when he suited up for England in the Nations League. He scored the winning goal in the Three Lions in their 2-1 win against Belgium. He played 73 minutes against Denmark in a 10-man team and then came in as an impact substitute in their tussle against Wales.
Much of the trolling and the comments on social media stem from the fact that Mount played ahead of the immensely talented Jack Grealish. However, with his endurance and his skill to press along with his work-rate off the ball prompted Gareth Southgate to persist with Mount. Technically, it isn't his fault that he played over Grealish, but the fact he has been a sure starter in Chelsea's games and that Frank Lampard has marked him as one of the future speaks volumes.
Last season, he played over 50 games for Chelsea and has seven Premier League goals and five assists to his credit. With the backing he's received from Southgate and Lampard, there's no doubt Mount has held up his end of the bargain as an adept scorer and playmaker. With the abundance of attackers Lampard has at his disposal, a Mount goal will stand out primarily due to his effectiveness in the field. That said, even if he doesn't score, perhaps he would get recognition for making those blink-and-miss plays.
Star midfielder, N’Golo Kante is a doubtful starter after he missed France’s Nations League clash against Croatia with a muscle injury. Chelsea and Lampard will also be assessing the fitness of their summer acquisitions Ben Chilwell (sickness) and Edouard Mendy (thigh issue) over the next couple of days. These factors make it all the more important for Mount to extend his momentum and ensuring his side puts in a dominant performance.
Chelsea has a string of tough clashes coming up after their Southampton game. They take on Sevilla and Krasnodar in their UEFA Group matches leg and have a date with Manchester United. And Mount's impressive run will be integral for Lampard and his Blues.
The game will kick-off at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT on Saturday, October 17. The game will be telecast live on NBCSN.
