WITH 12 goals in 20 appearances this calendar year, Benjamin Sesko is gradually developing into a dependable goalscorer for Manchester United.
Sesko marked his first start since May 3 with a second goal in as many games in United’s Champions League opener against Sabah, providing coach Michael Carrick with a conundrum.
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Thirteen of Carrick’s 21 games in charge of United have been without Sesko in the starting line-up and the record is favourable. United won eight and drew three last term.
But Sesko sprung off the bench to score winners in two and an equaliser before his fourth ‘super sub’ goal at Everton last week. United missed Sesko at Hull and Everton in their first away games this term.
As a £73million signing, ‘super sub’ is not a nickname Sesko entertains. But he may be back on the bench against Manchester City on Sunday.
Carrick agreed: “He definitely offers a different kind of threat. I think that’s kind of the beauty of it, really, that we know what Ben gives us.
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“And there’s not many around that kind of give you what Ben does in terms of his physique, his physicality, playing on the last line, his speed to run in behind. He’s a real threat.
“It’s great to have him back at this level after working to get back fitness. So, a couple of goals and good performances, good minutes in him.
“So really pleased with the way he’s gone.”
Sesko, 22, missed the entirety of United’s six-game pre-season schedule as he recovered from a shin injury he aggravated when pushed off the Old Trafford pitch by Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.
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Man Utd ratings v Sabah
MANCHESTER UNITED cruised to a 4-0 romp over Sabah in their first Champions League clash of the season.
Michael Carrick‘s team were dominant throughout and went three goals up before half time through Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko.
Lisandro Martinez then made it four in the second half to give United a comfortable evening and a thumping start back in Europe.
Read SunSport’s Samuel Luckhurst’s verdict on the players at Old Trafford.
That accounted for Sesko’s managed-minutes against Hull and Ipswich before his impact at Everton, where he lashed in the winner last season.
With roughly 68 hours between kick-off against Sabah on Thursday evening and the derby on Sunday afternoon, Carrick possibly decided on his weekend side before the Champions League anthem blared around Old Trafford.
Particularly given the competition. Bruno Fernandes slotted in his fourth of the campaign against Sabah while Matheus Cunha also got off the mark.
Bryan Mbeumo is already on two goals and Marcus Rashford impressed in his starts against Ipswich Town and Everton.
Rashford was unused against Sabah, having come off at Everton with an unspecified issue. His rest would signpost a recall at the weekend.
After Carrick decided on Shea Lacey and Harry Amass as United’s final substitutes on Thursday night, he offered Rashford some fleeting words of reassurance at the end of his warm-up.
It was possibly, “I’ll need you Sunday”, or words to that effect.
The 28-year-old scored on his last derby appearance at the Etihad in March 2024, before his dramatic demotion at the same stadium nine months later.
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For Rashford, starting against City would be a chance to exorcise the demons. His absence from Ruben Amorim’s squad in December 2024 seemed to signal the end of his United career.
If one of United’s elite forwards will have to settle for a bench berth in the derby, it is unlikely to be their Mancunian.
“It’s not an easy decision,” Carrick admitted. “But it’s definitely one I’d prefer to have goals in the team and for the boys to be playing well.
“And I think the understanding that they all have, that sometimes it’s going to be a start, sometimes it’s going to be finishing the game, and we need that within the group from game to game over the season.
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“I’ve said it enough times, really, probably repeating myself, but to be able to call upon slightly different kind of things at different times.
“So it’s fantastic that they’re all in good form and started so well.”