Mason Mount is the attack-minded midfielder Chelsea were missing

Mason Mount has been the center of attention amongst the youth players available this season for Chelsea. The youngster has become the midfielder the team were missing.

Chelsea’s midfield was near completion coming into this season, but no one was there to step up and do the job Mason Mount is doing. Since the appointment of Frank Lampard, the main talk of conversation has been Mount and how he would fit in a midfield of all senior players. Considering that Mount played under Super Frank at Derby County last season, the expectations for his involvement ranged from “he will be substituted most games” to “he will start some games.”

But Mount has earned his role over some senior players. It was not luck. The young English midfielder has done the job that the likes of Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovatic have not.

Mount is an attacking midfielder who presses the opposition defense almost as a second striker. He is very attack-minded, always seeing a pass forward and looking to make a dashing run at the defense. Becoming a threat in both possession and in his positioning, Mount gives the opposing defense more trouble than any other midfielder in the Chelsea squad.

More importantly, Mount is not afraid to shoot. At only 20 years of age, and the least experienced of his team-mates in his position, he averages 3.5 shots per game, more than anyone in the squad. He sees the space and takes the opportunity to let them fly.

If he hones down his ability to place his shots or aim properly at angles difficult for the goalkeepers, there is no doubt he will be a formidable force in the attack for Chelsea.

One thing Mount – like any young player – still needs to work on is his decision-making in the final third. Although it is great that someone in the team takes the responsibility to fire at goal whenever possible, sometimes a final and precise ball to the forward is the better option.

Fortunately, Mount has been training under Frank Lampard from his time at Derby County, and what better way to impress your boss than to imitate his finest moments? And Mount is young – the tactical side of his game will only improve with time. We can expect his goal and assist tally to grow as the season progresses, and from one season to the next as he becomes a regular in Chelsea’s squad and fully develops as a player.

Chelsea can rely on Mason Mount to be the player who focuses on the attack. This was feature of Chelsea’s game that was lost last season, if not for Eden Hazard.

Mount’s direct approach to the game and single mindedness to attack will see Chelsea to victory many times, and maybe usher the rise of a new club legend.