Wayne Rooney has delivered his verdict on Benjamin Sesko after Gary Neville branded Manchester United’s £74m summer signing ‘awkward’ and ‘well off it’.
Ruben Amorim sanctioned United’s big-money move for Sesko after his first-choice target Viktor Gyokeres signed for Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Much was expected of Sesko, who scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig last season and was signed to replace struggling United striker Rasmus Hojlund, now at Napoli.
But the 22-year-old Slovenia international has endured an underwhelming start to his Old Trafford career, scoring twice in his first 12 appearances.
After Sesko drew a blank in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the start of the month, club legend Neville said the ‘jury is still out’ on Amorim’s summer signing.
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Asked to assess Sesko after he went a fifth game without a goal, Neville told NBC Sports: ‘I’m no further forward with him. The jury is out.
‘He’s well off it compared to the other summer signings that Man United made up front in [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo.
‘He looks awkward, he had a couple of really good opportunities in the first half when balls got played over the top and his touch wasn’t quite right.
‘For 80 million pound, you can say he’s young, has a lot of potential and is only just settling in, but you still want to see a bit more.’
United record goalscorer Rooney says Sesko has been ‘better’ than his critics have suggested and insists he will ‘come good’ at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘I think with Benjamin Sesko, he’s going through a tough time currently, in terms of goals,’ Rooney said on The Overlap. ‘But I think his overall play has been good.
‘[Fellow United summer signing] Senne Lammens has come in and done well. He’s been more direct into Sesko, and what we’re seeing is his ability to hold the ball and link the play, which is better than Rasmus Hojlund.
‘We’re seeing as the ball goes up to him, the forward players are running in behind as they know he’ll compete and win flick-ons.
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‘He’s been better than what people have been suggesting, but I think he needs to start scoring more. I think he’ll improve and come good for United.’
Sesko again failed to find the back of the net as a second-half substitute in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday.
To make matters worse, Sesko only lasted 30 minutes before hobbling off with an injury that has ruled him out of Slovenia’s crucial World Cup qualifiers during the international break.
Amorim said ‘you never know’ when asked about the severity of the injury but Manchester United are optimistic it is not a serious blow.
Manchester United, sitting seventh in the Premier League after the Spurs stalemate, return to action on November 24 against Everton.
The Red Devils finished just 15th last season but look vastly improved and primed to challenge for European football once more.
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