Straight back to action for Mason Mount! Midfielder thrown into Man Utd squad for Liverpool FA Cup showdown days after injury return

The England midfielder has been sidelined with a calf problem and has not played since United's 1-0 victory over Luton in November. But after a lengthy layoff Mount returned to training earlier this week, and manager Erik ten Hag hasn't delayed in bringing him back into the fray. The Athletic reports that the 25-year-old will be in the squad that hosts Liverpool in Sunday's crunch FA Cup quarter-final clash.

The Dutchman hinted as much in Friday's press conference, telling reporters: "Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have chances to be back, they are training with the group. Mason Mount trained all week with us, he had some full sessions with us, so it's looking good”.

Mount's long-term issue has been symptomatic of his nightmare start to life in Manchester, where he is yet to really kick on following his £60 million ($76.7m) move from Chelsea in the summer. His return will still be a boost to Ten Hag, though, who welcomes back Maguire, Hojlund and Wan-Bissaka but is still contending with injuries in other positions. The likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial remain on the sidelines.

Sunday's FA Cup showdown with Liverpool awaits, in a game which represents United's last shot at silverware this term. Defeat to their bitter rivals will surely seal the fate of Ten Hag at the helm, as the Red Devils enter into a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the summer.