Graeme Souness has suggested that Chelsea’s Mason Mount won’t start tomorrow when England play Senegal in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
England and Senegal face off on Sunday night in the last-16 of the World Cup. Afterwards, the winner will play either France or Poland in the quarter-finals.
For Mount, he’ll be hoping to earn his 35th senior England cap this weekend.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder started the group openers against both Iran and the United States, but was left on the bench in the recent victory over Wales.
Mason Mount won’t start
Pundit Graeme Souness thinks Mount’s absence against Wales is a sign that his game time in this tournament is on the decline:
“It was a game (against Wales) crying out for James Maddison and Mason Mount — two of England’s most dynamic and creative players — but what did we get? A midfield built not for creativity but for pragmatism, with Jordan Henderson playing further up the field and Declan Rice sitting… For me, Maddison and Mount should have been starting on Tuesday,” Souness wrote for the Daily Mail.
“That approach against Wales tells me that now we’re getting deeper into the competition, watchfulness and pragmatism will be Gareth’s bywords. If he’s pragmatic against Wales, he’ll be pragmatic against Senegal on Sunday.
“I do think England have enough to win this next game, but you’re not going to get beyond Senegal, face France in a quarter-final, then suddenly take the handbrake off and fill your team with more creative midfielders. Don’t expect to see England minus the handbrake any time soon unless they’re chasing a game. Don’t expect to see a great deal of Mount, or anything of Maddison.”
In our view, Souness may have this one incorrect when it comes to the Senegal clash. It’s difficult trying to second guess England boss Gareth Southgate, though.
The team selection against Wales looked from the outside like a few rotations just to keep the squad fresh ahead of the World Cup knockouts.
Mount may not be at his dazzling best in Chelsea colours so far this season, but he’s so often been a go-to pick with England by Southgate.
Joe Cole has shared he would definitely be bringing the Blues star back into the side against Senegal.
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
