Manchester United's questionable £55m transfer decision is ageing badly

Thirty-eight. That is how many matches Mason Mount will have been absent for by the time Manchester United's Europa League clash with Fenerbahce draws to a close on Thursday evening.

The midfielder is currently out with a knock and, including tonight's game, will have missed four matches. The specifics of his injury, however, have been kept under wraps.

Mount was forced off with a head injury in his last appearance, leaving the field in the closing stages of the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on September 29. However, it was later confirmed he had encountered a separate issue.

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Speaking ahead of Thursday night's clash with Fenerbahce in the Europa League, United manager Erik ten Hag said: "I think it is a bit longer [to wait until Mount is available], that's what we expected. I think he will be back soon."

Signed for an initial fee of £55million in July 2023, Mount has made just 25 competitive appearances in United colours. His first season at Old Trafford was plagued by injury issues, resulting in him being limited to just 20 appearances.

According to injury data available, Mount missed more than 140 days of last season, missing 31 matches in total. His longest period of absence was between November and March, in which he took four months to recover from a calf injury.

Nevertheless, United viewed last season as a false start to Mount's Old Trafford career, optimistic he would turn his fortunes around this season.

However, just over two months into this campaign, Mount is already spending more time in the treatment room than on the pitch. Tonight's Europa League tussle will mark the seventh game of the season he will have missed already.

Mount enjoyed a successful pre-season campaign, looking both sharp and confident during the tour of the United States, deservedly earning a start in the Community Shield and then in each of United's opening two Premier League matches. He was deployed in a more advanced position than what he was originally signed to play in, operating in the No.10 role amid Bruno Fernandes' need to play as a false nine.

It was unfortunate that he was forced off against Brighton & Hove Albion in United's second game of the league campaign and then sidelined for three games. Mount's United career has had a constant stop-start theme and nobody will be more frustrated than the 25-year-old, who joined the club on a five-year deal from Chelsea.

The purpose of Mount's addition to United's midfield pool just over a year ago was to add fresh energy to the club's first-choice midfield. He was expected to pick up the baton from Christian Eriksen and bring fresh energy to the No.8 role, roaming between both boxes.

A constant string of injury issues, however, have prohibited him from getting into any sort of rhythm. He has never started more than two successive league games for the club.

Although United needed to add a freshness to their midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 season, questions were asked of their decision to invest up to £60m in a player that had less than a year remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge.

In United's defence, Mount, despite only being 24 at the time, was vastly experienced and had won three major trophies during his Chelsea career, including the Champions League. It was a progressive signing that looked as though it would upgrade United's midfield options.

However, the decision to invest such a lavish fee in a player that had less than 12 months remaining on his contract was right to be called into question. United spent several weeks negotiating with Chelsea and refused to entertain the £65m asking price Chelsea demanded.

Nevertheless, £55m has still proven to be incredibly costly for a player who has so far cost the club £2.2m for every appearance he has made.

Nobody, of course, could have foreseen Mount's United career mapping out how it has up to now, and there is still optimism he will be able to make a name for himself at Old Trafford, but the decision to invest such a lucrative price tag in a player that had entered the final 12 months of his deal is ageing very, very badly.