At the age of 23, Mason Mount has already racked up 173 Chelsea appearances, 32 goals and 36 assists. The Cobham product even has Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup medals to his name. It's a record even Frank Lampard can't compete with in his first three seasons with the club.
It should come as little surprise that Graham Potter has been impressed by Mount's ability and effort. He is the only outfield player to start each match following the former Brighton boss' arrival and the latest Chelsea coach to place trust in the midfielder.
Potter believes a lot of the England international's qualities are hidden from view, despite his productivity and the fact he has twice won the Chelsea player of the Season award. Mount's enthusiasm appears to go far in his coach's mind.
READ MORE: Graham Potter plan for ‘frustrated’ Denis Zakaria as Christian Pulisic is given Chelsea reminder
"I think it's his personality as much as his football ability," said the 47-year-old. "He enjoys the game, loves the game, loves the club, loves his teammates, wants to win, wants to improve, is open-minded, prepared to suffer, prepared to do the ugly side of the game. Then he has the quality to be the match winner that he was at the weekend, but the other stuff, I think, is the stuff below the water, below the iceberg. That's what maybe you don't recognise or see with him, but he is a top person, a top professional."
What is it that separates Mount, though?
"I would say love for the game, love for his teammates, love for the club. I think he loves to play football. You can't measure that," comes Potter's reply.
Potter finds it peculiar that some may doubt Mount's ability and acknowledges that during his time at Brighton, Mount was a concern to prepare for. His opinion of the midfielder's talent has only grown since arriving at Chelsea in September, however.
He said: "It's part of life. Everyone is welcome to their opinions, and that's fine. From my perspective, as an outsider, whenever we played against Chelsea, you were always concerned about Mason.
"For his quality. You can see it. If you give him a second or too much space, he can hurt you with his qualify, and his executions are fantastic. But once you start to work with him, you see the person, you see how much he loves this football club. How much he loves his teammates, how much he is prepared to do the nasty, ugly side of the game that sometimes players of his level don't do.
"In terms of working hard for the team, covering back. In terms of pressing, in terms of defensive transition, covering ground, He does all that stuff, and on top of that, he has the quality I think is there. He is still a young player, and it is hard to continually score and assist in the Premier League at any age, but as a young player, he will get better and better. He is really exciting. I am excited for his future."
Mount netted his first goals of the season at the weekend and added his fifth goal contribution in just three games. The former Derby loanee has shown a greater intention to attack since Potter's arrival, and it appears to be paying off. Potter was unconcerned about Mount's wait to open his account for the season.
He said: "Sometimes we forget the game is about the team, and too often we zoom into individuals. When the team isn't functioning well, some individuals bear the brunt of it.
"But actually, it is always the team and if that isn't functioning as optimally as it can and then sometimes the individuals don't perform to the levels that they can. But he is a young player. He will learn. Arguably you need to suffer a bit to get yourself to the top because you need to realise and learn about yourself and find out about your career and your own life when it isn't going so well. Life isn't always upwards. He has done that and comes out better and stronger for it."
READ NEXT:
Two Chelsea loanees return to Cobham as defender receives 'best' compliment
Kepa Arrizabalaga fulfils transfer hope and answers Luis Enrique Chelsea call before World Cup
Mason Mount sends perfect message to Reece James as Graham Potter Chelsea prediction comes true
Four things learned as Chelsea prove Steven Gerrard wrong and Mason Mount fulfills Potter plan
Chelsea confirm Stamford Bridge redevelopment plans as timeline set amid huge Liz Truss setback
