Manchester United are set to be without midfielder Mason Mount for Wednesday's pre-season friendly against Leeds United at Croke Park in Dublin, with the England international nursing a foot injury sustained over the weekend.
Mount had impressed during United's opening three pre-season fixtures, deployed in a number eight role alongside new arrival Andrey Santos, who operated just behind him in midfield. The pairing had shown early promise as head coach Michael Carrick continued to shape his squad ahead of the new campaign.
However, Mount's progress suffered a setback during Saturday's draw with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg, when he was caught by a kick to the foot in the opening minutes of the match. Carrick opted to substitute the 27-year-old before half-time, though the decision was described as precautionary rather than a reaction to the severity of any injury.
Despite the withdrawal, there were no immediate signs of serious concern, as Mount was seen walking without difficulty as he made his way to the team bus following the final whistle. That reassurance, though, has not translated into a swift return to training. Reports indicate that Mount has not taken part in any sessions since the PSG match, making his availability for the Leeds fixture unlikely.
United's pre-season schedule continues to ramp up as the club fine-tunes its preparations under Carrick, who has been using these fixtures to assess combinations across the pitch, including the promising early link-up between Mount and Santos. The Brazilian's arrival has added fresh competition and depth to United's midfield options, and his early performances alongside Mount had been viewed as an encouraging sign for the coming season.
The Dublin encounter with Leeds represents another opportunity for Carrick to experiment with personnel and system before the Premier League campaign gets underway, but Mount's continued absence from training sessions raises questions about his fitness timeline. While the initial expectation was that his foot issue was minor, the fact that he has been unable to resume full training in the days since the PSG game suggests a more cautious approach is being taken by United's medical staff.
Looking further ahead, it remains uncertain whether Mount will be fit enough to feature in United's final pre-season fixture, a meeting with Ruben Amorim's AC Milan in Wroclaw on Saturday. That match will likely serve as one of the last chances for Carrick to finalize his thinking before competitive football resumes, and Mount's potential involvement will be closely monitored in the coming days.
Mount's versatility and recent form had made him a key figure in United's evolving midfield setup, and his absence—even if temporary—could disrupt the continuity Carrick has been trying to build during the preseason. The club will be hoping that the issue proves to be nothing more than a short-term setback, allowing the midfielder to return to full training in time for either the Milan friendly or the start of the new domestic season.
For now, attention turns to Dublin, where United will look to continue their preseason preparations against Leeds without one of their standout performers from the opening weeks of the summer schedule.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.