Benjamin Sesko has hit a red-hot run of form in a Manchester United shirt with the ex-RB Leipzig man scoring in each of his last three appearances for the Reds

Wes Brown has hailed Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko and compared him to Reds icon Ruud van Nistelrooy following an impressive start to 2026.

Indeed, Sesko, 22, has scored SEVEN times in nine appearances across all competitions since the turn of the year – a run of form that has seen him earn a place in Michael Carrick’s starting XI.

After scoring late at West Ham and Everton last month, Carrick rewarded Sesko with a rare start for the home game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. And it was a decision that ended up paying off, as the Slovenia international netted for the third straight outing, scoring the winner in a 2-1 success at Old Trafford.

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Sesko manoeuvred half a yard of space inside the box before meeting Bruno Fernandes’ cross and powering a header into the bottom corner, giving Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson no chance.

It was another smart finish from Sesko, who now has nine goals in 25 matches for the Reds since his £74million move from RB Leipzig last summer.

And ex-United defender Brown believes Sesko has the potential to become the club’s long-term No.9.

Brown, was speaking with Bet MGM, told Manchester Evening News: “I think that’s the plan. For me, I’m lucky, I’ve actually interviewed him and he’s such a nice guy. But he’s very determined to do well. He’s even said that he found it a bit hard at the beginning with the pressure.

“But he’s starting to understand the game and the Premier League and the confidence is coming back. I think over the last five or six games, he’s showing that. Yes, a lot of it has been as a substitute. But he was given the opportunity the other day against Crystal Palace and when he got that one chance, or maybe two, he put it away. That’s all you can ask for from a striker.

“But the one thing I will say, he’s a big, strong lad, very athletic. He’s trying to do the best he can off the pitch as well to make himself better. But with strikers, it’s all about scoring and he’s definitely scoring at the moment. He’s a very talented player, he costs a lot of money and he’ll be here for a while. Now it’s all about, can he keep this scoring up?”

Brown then compared Sesko to his former United teammate Van Nistelrooy, who is renowned as one of the club’s best-ever strikers following a ruthless spell at Old Trafford in the 2000s.

Van Nistelrooy, 49, scored 150 goals in 219 appearances during a five-year stint at United between 2001 and 2006. “So the West Ham goal, I would even say the Everton goal and the Crystal Palace goal was definitely goals Ruud van Nistelrooy would score,” Brown added. “And what I mean by that is the West Ham one is like a toe touch one.

“The Crystal Palace one, it’s just behind the defender who makes the run. I probably say that because they’re all sort of in the box, if that makes sense. The Everton one was just laid back to him. But it’s about how you put it in the goal and some of them definitely remind me of Ruud. And I’m definitely not saying he’s Ruud yet. But it’s all about confidence. Because you can see the abilities there.”

Sesko will be hoping to continue his excellent run of form when United take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.

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