Manchester United icon Teddy Sheringham is a big fan of Benjamin Sesko and expects him to have a ‘huge impact’ this season, if he gets the chance to shine.
Sesko scored his first goal of the campaign on Sunday as he came off the bench to score Manchester United’s second in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Everton.
The 23-year-old has been limited to substitute appearances so far this season, rising from the bench in all three Premier League games.
That may partly be explained by the shin injury he was recovering from over the summer, although there is also competition for places up top for the Red Devils as Michael Carrick started with a front three of Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo on Sunday.
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Sheringham clearly feels that Sesko should be in the starting line-up, believing he will score plenty of goals at the highest level given the chance.
‘I really like Benjamin Sesko as a player, he has everything to be a top centre forward,’ Sheringham told BetVictor Online Casino.
‘He holds the ball up, lays it off nicely, and can score with his head or either foot. He knows where the goal is and gets himself into the six-yard box, he’s a fantastic player.
‘Having him in the team changes the format of the way Manchester United play, he provides that focal point every team needs. Midfield players enjoy playing with someone who gives them something to build off, especially when he can also score goals. He will have a huge impact this season.’
The Slovenia international scored 12 goals in his first season with the Red Devils, enjoying a good patch of form in the middle of the campaign after a slow start before suffering injury.
He will hope to be in the starting line-up on Thursday in the Champions League against Sabah and then Sunday for the Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford.
Still waiting for his first Manchester United appearance is new arrival Carlos Baleba, who was signed from Brighton last month for £70 million.
An ankle injury has kept him from making his debut but Sheringham is not even sure it will be a big positive when he does.
‘I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba, we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Man United yet so it’ll take six months or so before we can get a real idea,’ said the former England striker.
‘When you bring in two or three signings, you know they’re expected to be playing. With someone like [Youri] Tielemans, everyone talks highly of him and you expect him to go straight into the side, which has been the case.
‘So, someone like Baleba, with Kobbie Mainoo playing might have to bide his time. When that chance does come, they’ve got to grab it with both hands.’
Carrick has had a tricky start to the season, having lost to Hull and dropped points at Everton, but Sheringham expects him to get it right, even if he does look a bit different as a result.
‘The pressure is huge at Manchester United,’ he said. ‘The expectation may not be there right this minute, but within the football club and among the supporters over the years, they won’t be happy with fourth, third, or second. Within the club and around it, the pressure is huge without outside interest playing the part of saying Manchester United are not good enough.
‘Anyone within Man United who has been involved with Man United knows the pressure of what it’s like to play for Man United. Everywhere you go, people want to beat you. And Michael knows that, he’s been a player.
‘It’ll be interesting how long his hair stays nice and dark and flowing on the touch line. That pressure brings the grey hairs or the baldness at some stage for these managers and all of sudden you look and go, blimey. He’s got old, and that’s what that pressure does.
‘Being involved in football in general, but Man United even more so. But Michael knows that. I love his character. I wish him well and I think he will come good.’