MASON MOUNT has posted an amazing throwback snap of himself aged six making his first appearance in the blue of Chelsea.
The 21-year-old has become a regular this season after 14 years of hard work behind the scenes while in the club’s esteemed academy or out on loan.
He made his long-awaited Chelsea debut on the opening day of this season against Manchester United, but Mount has now posted a picture to social media of his first outing of any note in the blue of the West Londoners.
Sporting a wide grin, and a haircut brimming with gel, Mount began life at Chelsea in the under-six side after impressing scouts while playing locally in Portsmouth.
The young England international captioned the snap: “My first game, once a blue always a blue @ChelseaFC”.
He featured in a talented age group featuring current team-mate Reece James and West Ham star Declan Rice – as well as playing alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi as he progressed through the ranks – winning two FA Youth Cups along the way.
While Mount was beginning his Chelsea journey, current boss Frank Lampard was firing 16 goals as the Blues romped to a second-consecutive league title.
And 13 years on in 2018, idol Lamps, 41, was to have a huge effect on Mount’s young career, taking the then-teenage talent on loan to Derby County – giving him his first taste of senior English football.
He had already won Vitesse’s Player of the Year award, as well as being handed a place in the Eredivisie Team of the Year, so it is unsurprising that Mount starred for the Rams in the Championship.
He scored 11 goals and assisted a further six as Derby fell at the final promotion hurdle to Aston Villa at Wembley – but when Lampard bagged the Chelsea job, Mount was always going to feature.
He has produced a number of fantastic performances this season, including home and away in wins over rivals Tottenham – and some gushing fans were quick to salute their home-grown star on social media.
One wrote: “Bleeds Blue, love it mase”.
While another added: “Looking as happy now as you did then I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself, Mason #DestinedForTheTop”.
