Chelsea have discovered their own version of Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in the form of attacking midfielder Mason Mount, who currently ranks higher than the Portuguese in goals and assists per 90 minutes so far in this season's Premier League.
Mount, 22, demonstrated once more his important to Thomas Tuchel's side with his goal and overall performance in the tight but industrious 3-2 win over Leeds United in the Premier League over the weekend.
There's always been a debate surrounding just how good Mount is in comparison to other opposition players like Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe and Bruno Fernandes but the latest figures to emerge appear to have settled the ongoing debate at this point.
This is because - as per the well known Chelsea fan @FranKhalidUK on Twitter - the player who was first given the chance under Frank Lampard has scored and assisted more goals this season in fewer games than Man United's Fernandes.
In 15 Premier League games that Man United's No. 18 has featured in so far, he has contributed eight goal contributions whilst in two fewer games, Mount has provided two more goals and assists combined in comparison to Fernandes.
This won't come as much of a surprise to the Blues faithful who hold Mount in high regard and this sentiment is shared by his manager, Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel said: "Getting in the box, it is about connections, who he links with, it depends on which side he plays. But we cannot be surprised that sometimes in the careers of these young players you have difficult moments.
"This is why they are young players and their careers, it is not the end of the career, but the beginning. So the thing is to take care of him and guide him through these moments, push him, trust him to some degree, because these players always want to play, but now he is back in good shape and showing confidence, and with a bit of luck he is the guy who can win."
Tuchel's adjustment of how he has viewed Mount over the course of this season is somewhat clear in the time he has been afforded on the pitch. Before December the midfielder had only completed 90 minutes in the league three times but that number has doubled in their three games this month.
With regard to goals and assists per 90 minutes, Mount's contributions are more impressive. Mohamed Salah still reigns supreme with 1.44G+A/90 while Mount lies second in the league with 1.13.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota sit at 0.79 and 0.78, respectively, and no other player has a record above 1.00.
Fernandes in this category, sits above Ronaldo and Jota with a goals and assists per 90 of 0.87 as per FBref.com and despite this looking good, it's not superior to what Mount has mustered to date.
There are also other stats to suggest that the Chelsea man is superior to the United playmaker in other areas, which further strengthens the argument that, on current form at least, the Blues have an even better version of the £50million former Sporting Lisbon man.
In the progressive carries area of the game for the two attacking midfielder's, Mount (5th- 265) ranks two places above Fernandes (7th- 234), as per FBref.com once more.
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