Man Utd injury blow with Mason Mount set to miss key clashes handing lifeline to ‘unwanted’ star

SCOTT McTOMINAY could land the chance to snuff out transfer talk - as Manchester United face being without Mason Mount for up to six weeks.

Mount is likely to be sidelined until after the international break, having been taken off with a hamstring problem in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Spurs.

The £55million summer buy can surely write off United's next two Premier League matches - at home to Nottingham Forest this Saturday and a trip to Brighton on Sunday week.

That should put Newcastle and West Ham target McTominay back in the first-team frame.

Mount, 24, also appears certain to miss England's World Cup qualifiers with Ukraine and Scotland on September 9 and 12 respectively.

And his injury is particularly frustrating as he has so far struggled to justify the hefty fee United paid Chelsea for him.

Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag might now expect Mount to be out of the picture until at least the home game with Brighton on September 16.

Scotland star McTominay is a vastly different player - much more of a grafter compared to Mount's creative talents.

And Ten Hag has been looking to bring in one or two more top-class midfielders.

The Red Devils are thought to be duelling with Liverpool for both Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat and Bayern Munich man Ryan Gravenberch.

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But for now McTominay must be in contention to line up against Forest this weekend.

Old Trafford legend Gary Neville has suggested, however, that Ten Hag is "managing" the academy product out of the club.

Ex-England defender Nev told Sky Sports: "What is clear is that Ten Hag doesn't want to revert back to Scott McTominay.

"With [Bruno] Fernandes on the right, the midfield looks all over the place and the front three doesn't look capable of functioning as one.

"Does he go back to McTominay?

"Ten Hag has made five substitutions and not used him. It's almost as if he is managing him out of the club."

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