Neville and Keane make clear what they’ve seen with Sesko as Carrick sent plea
Benjamin Sesko scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season against Everton, but the Manchester United striker is yet to start under Michael Carrick
Gary Neville has called on Benjamin Sesko to start for Manchester United(Image: Stick to Football/The Overlap)
Gary Neville has called on Benjamin Sesko to be given a chance in the Manchester United starting line-up after his match-winning goal against Everton. The striker came off the bench to score the crucial goal in Monday night’s 1-0 victory.
The goal was the striker’s seventh in the Premier League since joining United back in the summer. Even though he has been restricted to appearances off the bench under Michael Carrick, he has still scored three goals in five appearances.
His form and performances have led to calls for the 22-year-old to start in the weekend’s clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Neville has now added to those calls.
Speaking on Stick to Football, he said: “In terms of Sesko he’s going to play him at the weekend, you would think now, he’s definitely grown, a little bit like [Viktor] Gyokeres in these last few weeks.”
Fellow pundit Roy Keane was in agreement and highlighted the main difference he has seen in the striker.
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“Confidence, yeah. But even earlier in the season, I think we mentioned, even though he was missing one or two chances, but he was getting into the good positions,” he said. “You think, ‘He’s doing the right stuff, he’s got a lot of confidence and belief.’”
Neville then asked: “Does he look quicker and more powerful?”
Keane replied: “Isn’t that always the case when someone is scoring goals? Attacking players, the weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
“Maybe the test will be you’ve got to be the main man now, can you take that? He’s coming off the bench and getting up to speed of the game.”
Former Premier League striker Ian Wright also praised Sesko for the way he took the goal against Everton.
“What people underestimate is that the ball has come across to Sesko, his concentration and finish was so [good],” he said. “He had a long time to look at it and people underestimate.
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“They think that’s easy because it’s just him and the goalie, but that finish and the contact, the timing, it was fantastic.”
Neville added: “Everybody in that stadium as the ball came across to him knew what he had to do, it’s a long time to look at it but he just did it.”
Amid the calls over the striker to be given a chance in the starting XI, Sesko has outlined his stance when it comes to starting games. “We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me,” he said.
“They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.”
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