In 2019 when Mason Mount made his Chelsea debut and went on to make the second-most minutes of an outfield player under Frank Lampard, he benefited from circumstances which many had not foreseen. With a transfer ban placed on the club, top end players unable to join, Eden Hazard leaving and the managerial position vacant, it was Mount who lead a group of young players into the squad.
Tammy Abraham made his emergence as a true top Premier League forward, scoring 15 non-penalty goals in 25 starts and topping the charts for the club with a number that hasn't been matched since. Reece James broke through to prominence as well, though he only started 16 games due to Cesar Azpilicueta's seniority and importance.
It was Mount, then, that got the nod over more experienced players. He featured more than Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley and significantly more than Ruben Loftus-Cheek - who was admittedly coming back from a lengthy injury lay-off.
