Erik ten Hag outlines Mason Mount return plan and reflects on Man Utd humiliation

Erik ten Hag has revealed that Mason Mount could make his return from injury when Manchester United face Crystal Palace this weekend. Mount has missed the last three matches but has been training with his United team-mates at Carrington this week.

The former Chelsea midfielder and Rasmus Hojlund have been sidelined with hamstring problems but are getting closer to reaching full fitness. Speaking in Thursday’s press conference, Ten Hag revealed that late calls will be made on both players ahead of Saturday’s game against Palace.

“It’s very good news they are back on the pitch,” he said. “They are back in team training, we have to decide whether they are fit enough to start [on Saturday] but it is very pleasing they are fit and back in the squad.

“We have so many games in this block to cover so I’m very, very happy. We have to make the final call. They did a couple of training [sessions]. We have to see how they recover and tomorrow they will make the final call.”

United will be hoping to secure all three points on their first visit to Selhurst Park since they were beaten 4-0 by Palace last season. Ten Hag is feeling more confident this time around, with the Dutchman having more players at his disposal than he did previously.

Reflecting on United’s humiliating defeat, he said: “It was a 4-0 [loss], totally deserved, but Saturday will be different. I don’t compare. From February onwards we had to find 11 players to construct a team. Now it is 18 and we can pick one.

“Maybe you can also compare it with the FA Cup final. Don’t compare it. The circumstances in that moment in the season, from February on, we had to find every time 11 players who can construct a team and now we are in a different place. We have 18 players and we can pick a team.”

United will go into Saturday’s match on a run of two straight victories following their defeat to Liverpool before the international break. They issued the perfect response with a win at Southampton before thrashing Barnsley in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Manuel Ugarte will be hoping to make his first Premier League start for the Red Devils against Palace, having been named on the bench for the trip to Southampton. He featured against Barnsley and showed plenty of encouraging signs alongside Casemiro in the engine room.