Having been previously concerned with how to counter Mount’s threat and industry when he came up against him when Brighton took on Chelsea, Potter today has six weeks and six matches of experience coaching the 23-year-old. He is puzzled when he hears people doubting the quality of the player who scored both goals in our most recent outing at Aston Villa.

‘It's part of life, everyone is entitled to their opinions, that's fine,’ begins the Chelsea head coach on the subject.

‘I can only speak from my point of view and as an outsider, whenever we played Chelsea, you're always concerned about Mason. You can see the quality he has and if you give him a second, you give him too much space, he can hurt you with his qualities. His executions are fantastic.

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‘Then once you start to work with him, you see the person, you see how much he loves the football club here, how much he loves his team-mates, how much he is prepared to do the nasty, ugly side of the game that sometimes players of his level don't do, in terms of working hard for the team, in terms of recovering back, in terms of pressing, in terms of defensive transition, covering ground.

‘It’s hard to continually assist and score in the Premier League at any age. As a young player, he is going to get even better and I am really excited for him for his future.’

Strange questions

Potter goes as far as describing Mount as a joy to work with, adding: ‘I would say he is a fantastic person.

‘It is surprising to get a few questions with a mixed opinion on Mason, I find that strange, especially from the outside. When you start to work with him, you see he has everything he needs to be a top, top player. A great attitude, he understands spaces, he can execute, he assists, he scores goals, he is top.’

The Blues coach explains that not so much should be read into a period like the one that led up to the Villa game when Mount had not scored for his club this season, prior to his two-goal salvo on Sunday.

‘Sometimes we forget the game is about the team and too often we zoom in on individuals. When the team isn't functioning well, individuals get the brunt of it, but actually it's always the team.

‘If the team doesn't function as optimally as it can, sometimes individuals don't perform to the level they can so maybe that's happened a little bit. Mason’s a young player, he'll learn, and arguably you need to suffer a little bit to get yourself to the top because you need to learn about yourself.’

Like an iceberg

Potter believes it is Mount’s personality as much as his ability that has meant all the managers he has played under at club and country level have been keen to have him in the team.

‘He loves the game, wants to win, wants to improve, is open-minded and is prepared to suffer. And then he's got the quality to be the match-winner that he was at the weekend. The other stuff is the big, below-the-water part of the iceberg. That's what you maybe you don't see with him - that he is a top person and a top professional.’