Benjamin Sesko was expected to lead Manchester United’s new-look attack this season, but the striker has still struggled to secure a regular starting place.
The Slovenia international joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig last summer in a reported £74 million deal and was brought in to spearhead the attack alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Benjamin Sesko endured a slow start at Old Trafford, scoring twice in his first 17 games under Ruben Amorim. His form improved after Amorim’s departure, though, with the striker finishing the campaign with 12 goals in all competitions.
An injury against Liverpool in May then ruled him out for the end of the season and most of pre-season. Despite returning to full fitness before the new campaign, Michael Carrick initially preferred Cunha as his No. 9 against Hull City.
Lineker questions Sesko’s lack of starts
Michael Carrick continued with a false-nine approach against Ipswich, giving Sesko only 10 minutes in the 5-2 win. He started on the bench against Everton too, but came on to score his first goal of the season in the 2-2 draw.
Sesko then started against Sabah and scored again in United’s 4-0 Champions League victory. Despite that, Carrick left him out against Manchester City and reverted to a false nine.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker questioned the decision.
“It’s odd that – I mean he comes on, and he has scored in games – but you wonder why he’s not getting a starting place. They’ve got [Matheus] Cunha… he’s more of a No.10, isn’t he? Rather than a nine. And [Bryan] Mbeumo plays mostly off the right and, obviously, [Marcus] Rashford was on the left.”
Sesko has scored twice this season, with only Bruno Fernandes, who has four, ahead of him.
