Manchester United's Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford was overshadowed by concerns surrounding Mason Mount, who was substituted at half-time. The midfielder played a role in the Red Devils' 1-0 lead, which came from Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu's volley, but he did not return to the pitch after the interval, with teenager Jack Fletcher replacing him.

Manager Ruben Amorim addressed the situation after the game, explaining that Mount "felt something" which prompted the change. According to Amorim, Mount was keen to continue playing, but the decision was made to avoid any unnecessary risk, especially considering the already depleted squad. "Mount felt something at half-time and he wanted to go in the second half, but we cannot lose more players," Amorim stated.

Mount's fitness has been a recurring concern for Manchester United. He sustained a leg injury in December 2024 during a 2-1 victory over Manchester City, which sidelined him for several weeks. He had only played for the first 14 minutes of that game. After a three-month absence, he returned to the squad for the match against Leicester City in March 2025 but did not feature.

This latest setback adds to Manchester United's growing injury list, with several key players currently unavailable. Bruno Fernandes is out with a hamstring injury sustained in the defeat to Aston Villa and is expected to be sidelined until late January 2026. Kobbie Mainoo is also nursing a calf injury, with his return anticipated in early January 2026.

Defensive woes continue as both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are also out injured. De Ligt has missed the last four matches due to a back injury, and there is currently no confirmed return date. Amorim said, "We are still working with them, they are not available for this one. Let's see for the next one".

Adding to the team's challenges, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are away on international duty.

Despite the numerous absences, Amorim remains focused on maintaining the team's winning momentum. He acknowledged Mount's importance to the team, praising his character and his fit within the team's style of play. "He [Mount] fits our style. He's a very good player inside and also outside the pitch. The type of character we want in this team and the club want," said Amorim.

The extent of Mount's current injury is still unknown, and further assessment is expected to determine the length of his absence. Manchester United fans will be hoping that the injury is not serious, as they navigate a busy festive period with a significantly reduced squad.