Sesko unsettled at United as Amorim defends handling of minutes

Benjamin Sesko’s opening weeks at Manchester United have been unsettled, with the 22 year old used mainly from the bench, involved in a Carabao Cup shootout controversy and yet to score after one start and three substitute appearances across August fixtures at Old Trafford and away. The Slovenia forward started in the midweek cup tie at Grimsby that finished 2-2 and went to penalties, and he came off the bench in a 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley in which Bruno Fernandes scored a 97th minute winner.

United manager Ruben Amorim has defended his handling of Sesko, saying the striker’s lack of preseason minutes and the fact he played a full 90 minutes at Grimsby left him short of sharpness and susceptible to cramp. Amorim said the choices over penalty takers and substitutions were connected to those factors and protection of the player. Sesko also scored his penalty in the shootout, and later told Slovenian media that English football is a higher level and he is progressing in training and mentally each day.

Criticism has been swift. Former coach Tim Sherwood voiced disbelief that Sesko was not started against Burnley, saying the youngster needed playing time to rebuild...