Gary Neville believes Benjamin Sesko's winner against Everton has earned him a starting spot for Manchester United's clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday
Gary Neville speaking after Manchester United's win at Everton
Gary Neville speaking after Manchester United's win at Everton(Image: Sky Sports)
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Gary Neville has urged Michael Carrick to drop Amad Diallo and hand Benjamin Sesko a starting spot for Manchester United's Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Sesko, 23, has been making a strong case for a place in the starting XI in recent weeks following his winning strike in a 3-2 success against Fulham and his leveller in a 1-1 draw at West Ham earlier this month.
Despite this, Carrick picked Sesko as a substitute for Monday's trip to Everton, opting instead for Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo in his forward line. However, Sesko, for the third time in four matches, found the net as a second-half substitute as he converted a 71st-minute winner to secure United a 1-0 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Slovenia international completed a swift counter-attack from the Reds and slotted a first-time effort into the bottom corner following Mbeumo's unselfish squared pass. With Sesko in excellent form, he has positioned himself firmly in contention to claim a maiden start under Carrick for Sunday's Premier League encounter at home to Palace.
And Neville reckons that Sesko has now merited his place in the starting XI, with the former United defender calling for Amad to make way for the ex-RB Leipzig striker.
"For Sesko now, I think he starts on Sunday against Crystal Palace," Neville told Sky Sports. "I haven't always been convinced about him this season, but what you have to do is move with what you see.
"I think there is a moment now where United have struggled in the last couple of games against West Ham and Everton; he looks like he is growing in his game and in his body, he looks like he has more power in his performance, his confidence is high. I think now on Sunday Michael Carrick starts him.
"Just feeling how Michael would look at that, I think it would kill the lad if he didn't start. I think what you'll see on Sunday is Cunha to the left, Mbeumo to the right, Sesko up top and Bruno in behind. I think Amad will just slip out for a game, he has been really good but I think Sesko starts."
Following Sesko's strike past Jordan Pickford, there appeared to be real aggression and emotion behind the celebration as he marched towards the ecstatic United supporters in the corner.
"That celebration was a message to everybody, mainly those Manchester United fans over in the corner that were going wild," Neville admitted. "But that was a message to say, 'get me in this damn team now, I start next time'.
Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United celebrates
Benjamin Sesko scored Manchester United's winner at Everton(Image: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
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"I think he will have been really disappointed, having scored against West Ham, which was a wonderful goal, not to be in that team today. You say he had a difficult time under Ruben Amorim, absolutely! But Michael Carrick has not started him yet in any game. So, he is obviously preferring other players it's fair to say.
"However, what he has now done in these three games; the winner against Fulham, the West Ham goal which was a big goal to get a point out of a game where United didn't play well, and then today with a winner where United haven't played well."
Sesko now boasts eight goals in 24 matches for United following his £74million transfer from Leipzig last summer. He is, however, hitting a bit of form having scored three times in his most recent four appearances.
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