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Benjamin Sesko is starting to become the centre forward Manchester United signed him to be

When Manchester United needed someone to produce a big moment against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Benjamin Sesko obliged. He did the same against Everton, and West Ham before that, and Fulham before that. The Slovenian’s goals have been worth seven points to Michael Carrick’s team.

 

It wasn’t so long ago that Sesko was facing widespread criticism. Some even wrote off the €85m summer signing as an expensive flop, an argument that was supported by the fact Sesko scored just two goals in his first 17 games for United. Since then, though, Sesko has found his finishing touch.

 

Sesko didn’t play his best game against Palace. He was uninvolved for much of the match and had just 16 touches of the ball in 75 minutes on the pitch. And yet his winner to keep up Manchester United’s good run of form under Carrick demonstrated why they were so desperate to sign him in the first place.

 

Few centre forwards in the Premier League would have been able to meet Bruno Fernandes’ cross into the box at such height and with such power that Sesko was able to. He is the sort of attacking focal point Manchester United have lacked for years. His physicality is giving Carrick a different option in the final third.

 

Against Everton, Sesko showed his lightning speed to race through on goal and finish. And against West Ham, the Slovenian exhibited his natural instinct for taking up good positions inside the box, finishing at the near post to salvage a point for Manchester United when all hope appeared to be lost.

 

Carrick has shown Sesko patience. Sunday was the first time the Slovenian had started under the interim manager and Sesko repaid that faith by netting the winning goal. Now, the expectation is that the €85m signing will produce game-winning moments on a regular basis until the end of the season and beyond.

 

“It’s not a gamble. It wasn’t that big of a decision,” said Carrick when asked about his call to start Sesko against Palace. “Benjamin is in a good place, and he has had a major impact in recent weeks. He’s learning what it feels like to play here, and to score the winner today is fantastic. We are here to help, and I’m sure that will continue. He is willing to do whatever that is.”

 

Manchester United’s comeback win over Crystal Palace lifted them to third in the Premier League table with Champions League qualification now a realistic target. No team has won more points over the last six matches in the English top flight than Carrick’s team who are finally playing with confidence after toiling under Ruben Amorim.

 

Much of Carrick’s revolution has been common sense. He ditched Amorim’s back three and set up Manchester United in a 4-2-3-1 base that has been a much better fit for the group of players in the Old Trafford dressing room. Carrick has found a good balance in central midfield and the attack is performing well too.

 

Until Sunday, though, Sesko had been kept on the bench. His big moments in matches against Fulham, West Ham and Everton had come as a second half substitute, when Carrick wanted something different to change the game. Against Palace, though, Sesko was installed as a central pillar of United’s lineup for the first time.

 

Sesko’s ceiling is extremely high. He has the frame, speed and natural physicality to become one of the best strikers in the world. The Slovenian’s execution isn’t always the sharpest, but this is where he is starting to become the player Manchester United signed him to be. Sesko’s recent form suggests there is even more to come from him.