Sesko's Rocky Start: Can Manchester United's New Striker Find His Range at Old Trafford?
23 January 2026
Struggles Under the Spotlight
Benjamin Sesko, the 22-year-old forward who joined Manchester United from Leipzig last summer, has faced sharp critique from pundit Tim Sherwood after a slow start at Old Trafford.
Sesko, who moved from Leipzig after two productive seasons in which he scored 39 goals in 87 appearances, has managed only five goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season, leaving fans and coaches wondering about his adaptation.
Sherwood questioned Sesko’s current level, noting he is among several United players not yet matching the club’s storied standard. In a discussion with Metro, he said the youngster is still developing and has room to improve, despite flashes of potential.
In the game where he faced criticism, Sesko did score twice and added another in the following match, a sequence that could help rebuild his confidence. Yet a new manager and a derby omission have also colored the season. Sherwood suggested that he might not be selected yet, given the other options in the squad, though several teammates are also finding it hard to settle.
Sesko was contrasted with United’s historic forwards. Sherwood recalled icons such as Robin van Persie, Carlos Tevez, Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Wayne Rooney as benchmarks that defined a high bar for the club. Those standards, he implied, make the new striker’s task especially tough after the Ferguson era, when the club often signed the best forwards.
Nevertheless, Sherwood emphasized Sesko’s youth and relative inexperience, suggesting that more time to adapt could help him unlock his potential at Manchester United.
Benchmarks, Pressure, and a Path Forward
Running through the comparison with past United forwards, the article notes the persistent weight of history on new arrivals. The star names Sherwood cited illustrate how high the bar remains for new strikers trying to write their own chapter at Old Trafford.
Sherwood’s view, while critical, also leaves room for optimism: Sesko is young, learning the league, and has shown moments of promise that could grow into consistency with time and opportunity.
Ultimately, the piece argues that patience and proper integration into the system are essential if Sesko is to fulfill the potential that justified his Leipzig success and Manchester United’s investment.
Caption: Sesko's difficult start at United sparks debate about his fit in the squad.
Punchline, Sniper-Style 1: If patience were a sniper rifle, United fans would already be fully scoped—Sesko is still sighting in his target.
Punchline, Sniper-Style 2: In football as in comedy, timing is everything; Sesko just needs one clean shot to start a cascade of goals. And yes, the keeper might blink first.
