MASON MOUNT is one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet.
The England manager’s only decision is where to play him.
Yet this is not a problem but instead, a massive plus. Wherever you put Mount on the pitch, is like putting a square peg in a square hole.
And on Wednesday night, the Chelsea player underlined what an enormous talent he is providing England’s midfield with an energetic heartbeat.
Just when Southgate’s team were running out of ideas, he caused some major panic in the visiting defence to win a corner with Harry Maguire hammering the winner.
All of a sudden, the group seemed a lot easier again.
There was a day when the so-called utility player was someone not really good enough to start anywhere.
But Mount’s versatility and class – as he displayed in abundance here – has already been enough to impress Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea.
Mount was tagged as the teacher’s pet when Frank Lampard was Chelsea manager and we have a similar situation with England.
This was Mount’s eight successive start and this was only his 16th cap.
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Southgate has known for a long time here is a serious quality player, even though England fans are only just realising it.
Particularly in the first half for England last night, he was unplayable on the left of a central three.
In a clear tactical ploy, he pushed wide out towards Raheem Sterling to such an extent that at times, the pair could have kept exchanging fist bumps. Poland were swamped.
It was down the left where Sterling caused mayhem with a brilliant run to win a penalty for Harry Kane.
Equally, there were various occasions where Mount and Sterling enjoyed a telepathic understanding.
Pushing for a second goal before half-time, Sterling was released by his partner in crime and while the shot was blocked, Mount delivered an attempt and believed he was fouled in the process screaming in agony.
Mount, you can be certain, will be used in different positions in the two warm-up games against Austria and Romania before Croatia arrive here at Wembley for the first game of Euro2020 on June 13.
Against Albania, Mount played the left of the attacking three with Kane the lone striker.
He made it 2-0 and became the first Chelsea player to score or assist in three consecutive England appearances since Frank Lampard, in 2013.
In the 5-0 win over San Marino, Mount was back where he was here last night, to the left of the midfield three.
Previously, Southgate has not been afraid to put Mount deeper in a defensive two alongside close pal Declan Rice, West Ham’s increasingly impressive midfielder grafter.
It will not be long before both Mount and Rice are the official captains of their respective clubs.
Despite his outstanding first half Mount, like his team-mates, were nowhere near as effective after the break.
They were not helped by the cock-up between Nick Pope and John Stones which led to Poland’s leveller through Jakub Moder.
Yet Mount was on a mission to change the game and he did just that, delivering a good run and attempting a shot before forcing the corner expertly taken by Phil Foden.
With Stones and Maguire also involved, the winner was certainly made in Manchester.
Yet this promising England team, which is by no means perfect and has some worrying issues, is not simply a northern powerhouse.
There are a few southerners doing their bit for Southgate with captain Kane still the main man. But Mount is not far behind.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
