‘It’s odd’ – Gary Lineker confused by Michael Carrick’s treatment of Man Utd star

Gary Lineker has questioned Benjamin Sesko’s lack of playing time at Manchester United this season and believes the striker came on far too late in the side’s derby defeat to Manchester City.

Sesko hit an impressive run of form in the back-end of last season under Michael Carrick, scoring ten goals in 15 appearances, but the forward has been limited to substitute appearances in United’s first four matches in the Premier League this term.

Matheus Cunha has managed to hold onto his place as the focal point of Carrick’s attack in a false nine role, despite the fact he is still without a goal and has been found wanting for the most part.

Sesko will have been desperate for a starting role in Sunday’s derby and there were widespread calls for the Slovenian to be given the nod after he found the net in both of United’s previous matches against Everton and Sabah.

But the 23-year-old again had to be patient for his opportunity and remained on the bench until the 67th minute, shortly after Erling Haaland had fired ten-man City in front in highly controversial circumstances.

The Red Devils ultimately come up short in pursuit of an equaliser at Old Trafford, leaving the club languishing down in 13th place in the table ahead of their trip to Fulham this weekend.

‘Would you worry a bit about United? Apart from that Bryan Mbeumo chance… well, they hit the post a couple of times, Marcus Rashford with that free-kick, a long, great effort, and Kobbie Mainoo hit a really good effort as well,’ the former England, Tottenham and Barcelona striker said on The Rest Is Football.

‘I thought Kobbie Mainoo did some nice stuff but up top, though, they look like they’re lacking.

‘They’ve got Sesko on the bench. It’s odd, he comes on and he has scored in games but you wonder why he’s not getting a starting place.

‘Obviously they’ve got Cunha, he’s more of a ten than a nine, Mbeumo plays mostly off the right, obviously Rashford is on the left.

‘You kept looking at it and thinking, “If you get someone up top… are you going to bring the big man on?, and he did come on bit a bit late.’

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, echoed Lineker’s remarks about Sesko and felt the forward should ideally have been introduced at the start of the second half.

‘He could have given him more time, Sesko,’ Shearer chimed in.

‘I was saying, “He has to bring him on!”, and I thought he could have brought him on at least ten minutes earlier than he actually did.

‘There’s talk of how they’ve strengthened their forwards and they’ve strengthened the midfield but they didn’t strengthen defensively. I’m not 100 per cent certain that they’re that great up top anyway.

‘I think they’re all right [in attack], they’re decent. But when you compare them to a lot of the big teams…’

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has been left similarly puzzled by Carrick’s reluctance to call upon Sesko this season and felt it was ‘obvious’ the hosts needed to freshen things up far earlier on in the derby.

‘I think Michael Carrick maybe will reflect upon the fact that he could have made changes earlier,’ the ex-United and England right-back said on Sky Sports’ coverage.

‘When you know for 20 minutes before half-time that it’s not going your way with 11 men, I think then Sesko should have come on straightaway to be a bit more of a battering ram up top.

‘It was obvious it wasn’t quite working.

‘He made the substitution eventually after 67 minutes which only left Sesko with 25 minutes so things like that will be reflected on and analysed I’m sure. That’s what they’ve got to concentrate on.’

The Red Devils return to Old Trafford this evening to host Brighton in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Sesko and Co will then look to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to the capital to lock horns with Fulham.

United were held to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage before emerging with a 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture at the Theatre of Dreams.

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