Chelsea manager Graham Potter does not want to “put a ceiling” on what Mason Mount can achieve after kickstarting a spell of good form for the England midfielder.
The 23-year-old faced criticism in some quarters for his early season performances, failing to get a goal or assist until his side’s 3-0 win over Wolves.
However, since Potter’s arrival, Mount’s performances have improved markedly and the academy graduate set up the first two goals in the win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Potter has been impressed with his homegrown star who now looks back to his best with just five weeks to go until the World Cup.
“Yeah, I really liked his performance,” Potter told reporters.
“I thought he linked the game well, him and Christian [Pulisic] were a threat down that left side, he made lots of runs in behind, sacrificed himself for the team, worked hard when we didn’t have the ball, so it was a really good performance by him.
“I do not doubt Mason Mount at all. It’s just like anything, sometimes the team doesn’t function as well and so the individuals don’t function as well … any young player knows football is a bit up and down, you have moments when it doesn’t go your way and it’s about what you can learn from that.
“He’s got that character, that personality, to continue to develop. He’s a delight to work with.
“I never like to put ceilings on players. I try to help them enjoy their football, I think if the team is playing well it helps individuals in the team, and that’s the job, that’s what we have to do.
“It gets more challenging with bigger squads and more player because there’s less time on the training pitch [to do one-on-one work, I presume]. But we have to work with what we have and so far the boys have been brilliant.”
Mount’s two assists came for Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic before Armando Broja sealed the victory with a first goal for his boyhood club late on.
Potter has been using a host of homegrown players since coming in, including Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and he sees value in the academy at Cobham.
“I don’t know if I prefer [using academy players] but I like it, absolutely,” he added. “And I think it’s important to have players who understand the club.
“Ultimately, the most important thing is having the right people with the right attitude, players who want to improve and have ambition and take the club forward and take their own careers forward. That’s what we want.”
