Michael Carrick being ‘careful’ with Mason Mount as Manchester United draw with PSG
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Mason Mount has been hampered by injury problems since arriving at Old Trafford, and lasted less than 20 minutes on Aug 8 after starting against PSG.
PHOTO: @MANUTD/X
- Mason Mount suffered a foot injury early in Manchester United's 1-1 friendly draw against Paris Saint-Germain, raising concerns about his fitness.
- Bryan Mbeumo scored the equaliser for United after PSG took an early lead, with goalkeeper Tom Heaton also facing injury issues.
- United showed promising teamwork, especially between Bruno Fernandes and new signing Youri Tielemans, ahead of upcoming friendlies and the Premier League season start.
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GOTHENBURG – Manchester United manager Michael Carrick played down concerns over Mason Mount after the England midfielder was forced off with an injury during a 1-1 pre-season draw with Paris Saint-Germain on Aug 8, saying the club had taken a cautious approach.
Mount, 27, was forced off inside 20 minutes in Gothenburg after appearing to suffer a foot injury following a challenge during the friendly, with Tyler Fletcher replacing the midfielder.
“He got kicked,” Carrick told reporters of Mount, who has played sparingly due to various injuries since joining the club from Chelsea in 2023.
“We just wanted to be careful and look after him. We’ve been lucky with injuries so far, so we wanted to be careful.”
Post-match video footage showed Mount walking onto the United bus without any form of visible knee support or a protective boot.
United, who will be competing in the 2026-27 Champions League alongside title holders PSG next term after finishing third in last season’s English Premier League, were 1-0 down at the time of Mount’s injury.
They had fallen behind in the second minute through an Ibrahim Mbaye goal even though French giants PSG were missing many of their star players.
But Bryan Mbeumo equalised for United in the 32nd minute, with Amad Diallo playing him in after winning the ball back.
There were more injury concerns for United early in the second half when their 40-year-old goalkeeper Tom Heaton suffered a right hamstring problem while rushing out to make a clearance.
Mbeumo might have doubled his tally but for the fine form of PSG’s Matvey Safonov.
The goalkeeper, however, left the pitch to jeers after escaping punishment for clattering into Joshua Zirkzee way outside of his area – an incident that may well have seen him sanctioned in a competitive match.
At the other end, there were late chances for Fletcher, Shea Lacey and captain Bruno Fernandes, who linked up well with new arrival Youri Tielemans in an encouraging sign for Carrick.
“I enjoyed it,” Carrick, 45, told MUTV, United’s in-house television station. “Good challenge. Slightly different with the way they play. We should have scored more goals.”
The former United and England midfielder added: “It’s good for the boys sometimes to have to problem-solve and find their own way and I thought we did that. That prepares them for the season as well. In that respect there were a lot of things that maybe people don’t always see that we were quite happy with. There were some good signs there.”
United have two more friendly fixtures, against bitter rivals Leeds United in Dublin on Aug 12 and AC Milan in the Polish city of Wroclaw three days later, before launching their EPL campaign away to promoted Hull City on Aug 22.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s new manager Matthias Jaissle sees plenty of work ahead for his young team after marking his first game in charge with a 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Valencia on Aug 8.
Filip Ugrinic fired Valencia ahead inside four minutes, but Newcastle fought back at the Mestalla Stadium with substitute Yoane Wissa scoring twice in the second half.
“It was a friendly today. We will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot,” Jaissle told reporters.
“We’re quite balanced. We know what it is about. Now it’s pre-season, and we’re still looking to work on it. It’s just a journey.”
The victory was overshadowed by an injury scare for Anthony Elanga, who was stretchered off after a challenge from Valencia defender Jose Gaya, who was shown a red card.
However, Jaissle said the Sweden international appeared to have escaped serious injury.
“It seems to be not bad, so we are pleased. I hope it’s true, then he can start again next week,” the 38-year-old said.
“I was in fear, definitely, but now I’m more relaxed as the medical department is showing almost green lights, and there’s nothing serious.”
Jaissle, appointed on Aug 5 following the departure of Eddie Howe, has inherited a squad in transition after key players Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon left.
The German manager turned to youth, with goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, midfielder Aladji Bamba and winger Bazoumana Toure making their debuts, while 18-year-old midfielder Sean Steur impressed off the bench.
“Time is the key. They’re young lads,” Jaissle said. “It’s never going to be easy in football, especially at the highest level, but we’re here to help them.”
Newcastle begin their EPL campaign against Liverpool on Aug 23. AFP, REUTERS