Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount had to be substituted inside the opening 15 minutes of Sunday’s derby clash with Manchester City.

Mount’s time at United has been plagued by injury issues but he had been training and playing well recently and was therefore selected to start at the Etihad Stadium ahead of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Reacting to Mount’s latest setback, former United captain Gary Neville described the situation during commentary for Sky Sports as ‘demoralising’.

He also suggested that Mount would be feeling like he was ‘letting everyone down’.

Neville said: ‘It’s not good losing a player 12 minutes into a match but for Mason Mount he’s got that resigned look on his face of a player that has been in the gym rehabilitating enough.

‘It’s demoralising and you feel like you are letting everybody down.’

Manchester United star Mason Mount suffered a ‘demoralising’ injury setback on Sunday

Mount started for United away at Manchester City but he was unable to complete the first half

No 7 Mount was checked on by United’s physio before leaving the action after just 13 minutes

Former England and Everton midfielder Leon Osman added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘The look on Mason Mount’s face says it all. He’s pretty gutted. It’s exactly what he didn’t want.

‘He was given the opportunity by Ruben Amorim and would have wanted a run of games. It’s frustrating for him.

‘Almost all of the Manchester United players went to him and gave him a hug. They are all disappointed for them.’

Mount’s latest injury issue did not seem to be caused by a challenge from another player.

The 25-year-old former Chelsea star appeared to sustain the problem off the ball, before slumping to the turf.

Mount was visibly distraught and looked like he was fighting back tears as he trudged slowly off the field.

United boss Amorim hugged Mount as he exited the action to make way for substitute Kobbie Mainoo.

Rashford and Garnacho would seemingly have been more like-for-like options to replace Mount, but the attacking duo were not included in Amorin’s matchday squad.

Ex-Chelsea ace Mount received a hug from United manager Ruben Amorim as he left the field

Mount’s appearance on Sunday was only his ninth Premier League start since joining United

Mount had been given the nod ahead of Alejandro Garnacho (left) and Marcus Rashford (right), who were both axed from the squad

Speaking before kick-off, Amorim explained his decision to leave out Rashford and Garnacho as he said: ‘We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the team-mates, pushing the team-mates up.

‘Everything is on the line when we analyse, try to choose the players. So that is my selection. Simple’.

Mount joined United from Chelsea in a transfer deal worth up to £60million in July 2023. Since then, he has only started nine Premier League games for the Red Devils.

Mount is currently under contract with United until June 2028.