Gary Neville has called on Michael Carrick to hand Benjamin Sesko a first Premier League start for Manchester United against Crystal Palace, following the striker's match-winning performance as a substitute at Everton. The Slovenia international scored his third goal in four appearances to secure a 1-0 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
Sesko, 23, has made a strong case for a place in the starting XI with his recent form, having also netted the winner against Fulham and a leveller at West Ham. Despite this, Carrick opted to leave him on the bench at Everton, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo starting in attack.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: 'For Sesko now, I think he starts on Sunday against Crystal Palace. I haven't always been convinced about him this season, but what you have to do is move with what you see. He looks like he is growing in his game and in his body, his confidence is high. I think now on Sunday Michael Carrick starts him.'
Neville suggested the celebration after Sesko's 71st-minute effort – converting Mbeumo's squared pass – was a clear message. 'That celebration was a message to everybody, mainly those Manchester United fans over in the corner that were going wild. But that was a message to say, get me in this damn team now, I start next time,' he added.
The former United defender believes Carrick should drop Amad Diallo to accommodate Sesko, predicting a front line of Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko, with Bruno Fernandes in support. Sesko now has eight goals in 24 appearances for United since his £74million summer move from RB Leipzig, with three strikes in his last four outings.
