It has not taken long for Mason Mount to become an essential cog in Graham Potter's plans for Chelsea.
Anyone who has been seriously paying attention to the goings on at Chelsea over recent years cannot be stunned by this development because the same thing happened under Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard.
Mount did not start this season well, failing to influence games in the manner he has consistently done since making his senior debut in 2019. One of Tuchel's most trusted figures failed to offer the magic he once had before the German was dismissed in early September.
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But since the change in the dugout, the English midfielder has not taken long to rediscover his best traits and start altering the course of games again. Only he and Kepa Arrizabalaga have started every game for Potter so far, and the tally of three assists out of the wins over Wolves and AC Milan justifies that trust.
He has consistently switched positions under Potter. In the first game against Salzburg, he was a right-sided attacking midfielder in a trio with Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho in a 3-5-2. Versus Crystal Palace, a left-sided attacker in a 4-2-3-1, in both games with Milan a right winger in a 3-4-3. Whilst in his standout display in the win over Wolves, a more central 10 in a 4-2-3-1, flanked by Christian Pulisic and Conor Gallagher.
Mount's durability and versatility under three coaches at Stamford Bridge have maybe undermined his technical capabilities and flair. Something he showcased with the delicate flick that offered Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the chance to gobble up his third goal for the club. Also, with the floated ball that dropped onto the head of Kai Havertz for the opener at the weekend, or the combination with Pulisic that enabled an impressive second.
He is a player who coaches like for his reliability in counter-pressing, intelligent movement and being able to implement complex tactical instructions to the letter. That may paint him as less of a footballing artist than his academy peer Reece James. More akin to an automaton awaiting instruction, but that is the grave miscalculation of Mount. He isn't just someone who runs around. He is able to do all of this so seamlessly because he is one of the best of his generation.
"Yes, I felt good," said Mount after Tuesday's win. "I got a yellow, so I didn't want to risk a sending-off. The referee was giving out a lot of cards tonight. That was his [Potter's] decision. I thought I played well to get the penalty and the assist for the other goal, but I was surprised to be given man of the match [having only played one half]."
Some of Mount's best moments have come in Europe's elite competition. The turn and finish against Porto, the clincher against Real Madrid in the semi-final, and the winning pass for Kai Havertz in the final. His inspirational outing at the Bernabeu back in April. He can now add the San Siro to the list too.
This all leads to the concern over his new contract, with reports of negotiations ongoing with the club's new ownership. It was James who penned a six-year-deal last month, and Mount is the second of those major deals needing to be tied up.
Mount, like James, has been an inspirational figure for supporters to cling onto since their breakthrough three years ago and have both performed with maturity beyond their years. They have arguably been two of the most consistent players at Chelsea in that time, and now both deserve to be paid among the club's highest earners based on that output.
Mount seems to care little about the noise around him because every slump he has had so far at Chelsea has seen him come out the other side a more rounded and developed player. The next step is ensuring that meteoric development continues in west London.
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