Ian Wright has named Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount as a leading contender for this season’s Young Player of the Year award.
The 22-year-old has been with the Blues since 2005. He progressed well through their academy as he was considered one of their shining lights as he edged closer to the first team.
The midfielder has represented England at every level from the U16s upwards. He was afforded his first chance of playing senior football in 2017/18 with Dutch outfit Vitesse.
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Mount scored 14 goals for them that term from his 39 outings. He then joined Derby County for the entire 2018/19 season.
The Englishman was managed by Frank Lampard at Derby and he broke into Chelsea’s first team last season under the club legend’s tutelage.
Mount made the most of his opportunity as he was one of their best players last season as they finished in the top four.
Lampard was replaced by Thomas Tuchel earlier this campaign, but Mount has continued to perform well.
The England international is now a key player for Chelsea and Gareth Southgate’s national side.
When asked who he thought were the leading contenders for Young Player of the Year, Wright also mentioned Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal legend insisted that Mount has “unique attributes” that serve him well:
“Mason Mount, he’s got unique attributes with his defensive and attacking sides of the game, ” he told the Kelly and Wrighty Show, as cited by Optus Sport.
“[He’s] creative in everything that he does.
“There’s no coincidence that people are kind of done with the ‘teacher’s pet’ thing with him and Gareth [Southgate] and Frank [Lampard], now Tuchel is picking him as well.
“I like the way he just went through that phase, just continually doing what he has done which is to play football the best he can, doing what the managers want for him to do.
“[He keeps] scoring goals, creating goals, working hard for the team.
“He is the mainstay for England, the mainstay for Chelsea now — somebody with an attitude and dedication to what he’s doing is first class.”
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