Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is the first name on the team sheet ahead of the trip to Newcastle on Wednesday night
Benjamin Sesko is the man of the moment for Manchester United
Benjamin Sesko is the man of the moment for Manchester United(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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What might have been for Manchester United, Newcastle and Benjamin Sesko had things worked out differently in the summer. Facing the prospect of losing Alexander Isak, Eddie Howe's men made a bid to bring the RB Leipzig man to St James' Park. Their efforts proved to be futile.
With United also on the hunt for a centre-forward, they approached the Slovenian who found the decision straightforward. The Magpies moved for Nick Woltemade while the Reds prepared to welcome their new first choice striker to the club. For a time, it seemed Newcastle would have the last laugh.
Woltemade settled into the Premier League better than Sesko and was embarrassing Isak at Liverpool. But Ruben Amorim's departure has changed the narrative entirely. United's striker has hit red hot form with six goals in seven matches and now has more Premier League goals to his name than Newcastle's talisman.
A feat even more impressive considering he started his first game for Michael Carrick on Sunday against Crystal Palace. Sesko had rescued United against Fulham, West Ham and Everton - making a point the interim head coach could no longer ignore. And, this weekend, the 22-year-old repaid the faith shown in him.
The striker produced a bullet header to beat 10-man Palace, proving the impact he can have on this team. However, his goals are not the only way Sesko is changing United. MEN Sport re-watched Sunday's win and spotted three ways United altered their approach with the centre-forward starting.
Fernandes role
United play better when Bruno Fernandes is on the pitch. That's a fact. Amorim's experiment playing the captain deeper was misjudged and was immediately repealed upon his exit.
Fernandes may line up in the No.10 position but his role is more fluid than that. Against Palace, with Sesko as the target man, the captain drifted into wider areas to deliver crosses for him.
The midfielder is undoubtedly the best at delivering crosses into the box and that was evident for the winner as Fernandes plonked the ball onto the head of Sesko effortlessly. But, it was Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha's ability to drift into the centre that allowed Fernandes to pick up these pockets of space. We can expect to see more of that as the forward starts more games.
Route one
The Premier League has undergone an identity switch this season. Direct football is no longer looked down upon and United have embraced this culture shift just as much as the next team.
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Interestingly, both Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro often attempted to hit the ball to Sesko in a route one approach. Some of United's best moves came when the forward was brought into the game. Instead of aimlessly hoofing it to the Slovenian, the defenders looked to get the ball to his feet so he could lay it off.
Withthis, United found themselves further up the field and were able to play their quick passes between Mbeumo, Cunha, Fernandes and Amad, when he came on, to stretch the Palace defence. Sesko showed how much he has improved in recent weeks by the effectiveness of these passages of play.
He was not bullied by the Palace defenders and more often than not, he was the man first to the route one pass from the back. Sesko has become a focal point for this team.
Crosses galore
Crosses into the area have become the order of the day now Sesko is starting. It was inevitable considering the quality he possesses in the air but this switch was sometimes too apparent.
In the first half, the Reds were guilty of going for the cross too often. Diogo Dalot received audible groans of disapproval when he overhit a ball into the area which flew over everyone's heads as he tried to catch the defence out.
In the second half, there was more nuance to the tactic. Instead of always looking for the cross, Mbeumo, Cunha, Fernandes and Amad were also aiming to cut inside and score themselves.
Switching up their approach in the final third pay dividends with not only the delivery for Sesko's winner but for the penalty Cunha won as he attempted to drive into the area before being fouled. United can't fall into the trap of becoming too predictable with Sesko on the pitch.
The beauty of him starting means he occupies the centre-backs and should allow pockets of space to open up elsewhere. But, after one start, Sesko has shown early signs he can banish the 'Super Sub' title.
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