Benjamin Sesko is staking a claim to become Man Utd’s starting striker again, but it just pushes Joshua Zirkzee further down the order.
Joshua Zirkzee is Benjamin Sesko’s backup in Man Utd’s first team, but as it stands, even Sesko is playing backup to Bryan Mbeumo.
The Dutch striker is one of the players whose situation has somehow worsened since Michael Carrick’s arrival, as he was already on the cusp of exit under Ruben Amorim.
How do you predict Benjamin Sesko’s career at Manchester United will go?
It's early – but let's see your predictions!
Getty Images
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
What Zirkzee did after Sesko’s winner vs Fulham, however, did not go unnoticed, and it confirmed a theory Man Utd fans have had about the Dutchman for a while.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates with his teammates after scoring during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
What Joshua Zirkzee did after Sesko’s winner
Sesko is yet to start a game under Carrick, but he has at least come off the bench in two of the last three games.
He played a crucial role in Matheus Cunha’s winner against Arsenal before going on to score himself against Fulham.
Zirkzee, in contrast, missed one game with a knock and has remained rooted to the bench for games against Arsenal and Fulham.
More United News
With just one game per week and a World Cup on the horizon, he could be forgiven for feeling a bit frustrated at his situation, which is why his reaction to Sesko’s winner was so noteworthy.
When Sesko went to the corner flag to celebrate, Zirkzee appeared in the frame out of nowhere, and it was hard to miss that he was celebrating even more wildly than the scorer of the goal!
He jumped over Sesko and screamed at the top of his lungs, as multiple Man Utd fans on X said it was a moment that gave them ‘goosebumps’.
Not only did Zirkzee display the team spirit Michael Carrick has cultivated in the dressing room in a short time, but he also confirmed a fan theory about his dressing room stature.
Zirkzee is a huge dressing room presence
Zirkzee hasn’t been the first name on the teamsheet ever since he arrived at Old Trafford, and he has even been underwhelming when looking at his time at the club holistically.
Ruben Amorim deserves ___ % credit for Michael Carrick’s BRILLIANT start at Man Utd
Fill in the blank. Did Amorim lay the foundation for success at Old Trafford?
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers split image
Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim as Man Utd managers
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
However, it’s not a coincidence that his name seems to come up the most whenever young players talk about a mentor in the dressing room, or senior players talk about the funniest teammate.
Zirkzee, for all his faults on the pitch, is definitely a huge dressing room presence who makes the group feel better without airing his own frustrations.
Ideally, it’s not the most important thing you want from your £36m striker, but it’s still better than someone who uses their influence to spread negativity in the dressing room.
For a man with his influence, he could easily air his grievances in the dressing room and put pressure on the manager, but instead, he’s being the ultimate team man.
Any manager would love a personality like that in the dressing room, even if Zirkzee might be on his way out in the summer if his playing time stays as it is.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox