Alan Shearer singled out Chelsea’s Mason Mount for immense praise following his Saturday display in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Mount, 23, continued his eye-catching form this season with a pivotal role in his side’s 2-0 away victory at Championship side Middlesbrough.
The England international assisted both Romelu Lukaku’s and Hakim Ziyech’s goals to stamp his mark on the contest, as well as look creative throughout in a number 10 position.
It’s a common criticism of Mount that he’s not involved enough when it comes to the third.
However, he’s now up to eight goals and 12 assists across all competitions so far this season.
Shearer was massively impressed by the playmaker after his FA Cup performance away to Boro.
“Very, very good. Very intelligent. He knows when, where and how to make those runs at the right time,” Shearer said on BBC One (7:12pm, 19 March).
“He is a second or two ahead of everyone. That is what makes him a special talent.
“He’s only going to get better. Every manager he’s had has appreciated him, and rightly so… He’s a class act on the pitch.”
Chelsea competition brilliant for Mount
It’s been evident during Mount’s first few years as a senior Chelsea player that he’s at his best when he’s got something to prove.
At present, he’s not a guaranteed starter in the XI.
Of course, he will start more games than he doesn’t due to his importance to Tuchel’s side. There is such competition within the squad for the attacking positions, though.
He will see the form of teammates Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz as the perfect ammunition to raise his levels.
Shearer is spot on that Mount still has many more levels to go through.
It’s going to be such an exciting journey to see where he ends up given he’s already supremely talented, especially as he’s a product of the Blues academy at Cobham.
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