Michael Owen has singled out a ‘struggling’ Manchester United player following the Red Devils’ win over Fulham, believing they can ‘kick-start’ their career at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick continued his perfect start to life in his second term as interim boss at Manchester United, as his side picked up all three points in dramatic fashion, beating Fulham 3-2 in injury time at Old Trafford.
United started brightly, with Amad and Harry Maguire both seeing early efforts kept out, while Senne Lammens continued to impress with a sharp reaction save, preventing the Cottagers from taking the lead. The breakthrough arrived when Casemiro met Bruno Fernandes’ free kick at the back post and guided a superb header into the net.
The first half finished 1-0 to the home side, but Marco Silva galvanised his side, who started the second period with real intensity. However, Matheus Cunha extended United’s lead with a strike that should have put the game to bed.
Raul Jiminez ensured it would be a tense ending to the match after winning and subsequently scoring a penalty to cut the deficit in half. Deep into injury-time, Kevin unleashed a super strike to level things up and seemingly ruin Carrick’s perfect start.
But in the dying moments of the match, a player who has struggled since moving to Manchester in the summer stepped up to prove to Carrick why he should be starting in his side by grabbing the winner and sending Fulham back to London empty-handed.
Owen heaps praise on Sesko
Benjamin Šeško provided a moment of pure quality and composure in the dying embers of the game, with a clever swivel and finish to send Old Trafford into raptures.
The Slovenian has struggled for minutes under Carrick, but Sunday’s winner will give the interim boss something to think about going into his next team selection. Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen was pleased to see the 22-year-old grab the winner after coming off the bench.
“That will do him no end of good. It’s not easy when you come in, with such a high price tag and everybody is looking at you, everybody knows that’s been a problem position for so long.
“It doesn’t start well, the team isn’t playing that well. How many times have we said that over the years? Manchester United’s number nine position has been a difficult position to fill.
“Then he goes and does this! A lovely first touch, the defender just comes across and gives him a lovely little area to bend it around. It’s a beautiful swivel and finish, great touch, bends, curls it into that far corner, and the goalkeeper gets nowhere near it.’
“You can’t help but feel really pleased for the lad. When you see him struggling, it’s not a nice thing,’ Owen added. I bet he’s been desperate for that moment, and it’s come, hopefully that can really kick-start his Manchester United career.”
Is Sesko the future of United’s attack
Sesko is a player who provides United with both an aerial threat and a player who can link the play between the midfielders and forwards. After arriving in the summer for such a large fee, fans where expecting an instant impact from the big Slovenian, but he has so far failed to find his feet.
Inconsistent minutes mixed with injuries and a managerial change have meant the 22-year-old has not had a consistent run of games leading the line for the side, and it seemed this would continue after not starting any games under Carrick.
Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United 3-2 Fulham (Premier League)
However, his dramatic winner against Fulham could cause Carrick to have a few headaches leading up to the Spurs game, as his physicality is something that differentiates him from other United striking options such as Bryan Mbuemo, who failed to make an impact in Sunday afternoon’s game.
Sesko is a player who needs time and trust to develop into the best version of himself. He has the physical attributes of a top-class Premier League striker; he just needs time to develop and adapt to English football, and the Slovenian could be leading the line consistently for United in the next couple of seasons.
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