Mason Mount is back in team training. That does not mean he is back in the Manchester United team.
It was certainly a boost to see the 25-year-old back in training on Tuesday morning, but his return will strengthen the squad rather than the starting line-up.
Mount has managed just four Premier League starts, with a further four substitute appearances this season. He has no goals or assists to his name. Regardless of his injury situation, it is simply not good enough.
Erik ten Hag identified Mount as his top midfield target last summer, but even then, the ÂŁ55million fee seemed excessive for a player who would have been available on a free this summer.
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His prolonged injury absence has certainly made it look like an even worse deal, but irrespective of handy hindsight, he never had an obvious role to fill for this United side.
Mount was at his best in a Chelsea shirt when operating as a No.10, the role monopolised by club captain Bruno Fernandes, and also played well as a makeshift right winger in games when they relied heavily on the counter-attack.
It means a starting role was only likely in exceptional circumstances this season, and during his injury absence, the problems have piled up for Mount as well.
Ten Hag had identified Mount as a candidate for the link role in midfield, tasked with connecting defence with attack and progressive play in the heart of the pitch.
There was a train of thought that it could complement Mount’s skillset very well. The problem for him is that Kobbie Mainoo has been doing that to an exceptional standard and is only getting better the more he plays.
Mount has also been done no favours by Alejandro Garnacho’s impressive development this season, particularly his recent success on the right wing.
It still remains to be seen which position Garnacho will specialise in as his career continues, but for the foreseeable future, he will occupy the other position Mount was signed to play in.
There is still a hypothetical argument that Mount could play alongside Mainoo as a midfield axis, or that Fernandes could even do so, with the former Chelsea man in the more advanced role. However, this still feels rather fanciful, given how open and exposed their midfield has been so far this season.
It could well be an option in certain matches going forward, though given the obvious defensive concerns, it would most likely be an option they turn to in-game rather than set out to play from the start.
This all leaves Mount in a rather uncertain situation as he prepares to make his long-awaited return to the United side. He is not expected to be involved against Liverpool this weekend but could feature for the trip to Brentford following the international break.
Whether he features on the pitch or not remains to be seen. As does where he would play.
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