Manchester United legend warns Michael Carrick he faces ‘conundrum’ this weekend | Football

Things have gone very well for Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager so far, but he faces a ‘conundrum’ this weekend, believes Red Devils legend Steve Bruce.

Carrick won the first four games of his spell as interim boss, before being held by West Ham in east London.

Manchester United got back on the horse on Monday night, winning at Everton to continue Carrick’s unbeaten run, which has seen them climb up to fourth in the Premier League table.

The manager has Benjamin Sesko to thank for three of the results he has picked up, with the Slovenian striker scoring late winners against Fulham and Everton and an equaliser against the Hammers.

All those goals came when he rose from the substitutes’ bench and calls are growing for the 22-year-old to start on Sunday at home against Crystal Palace.

Bryan Mbeumo has been leading the line and playing well, but without the goals Sesko has been scoring of late.

Bruce feels Carrick now has a conundrum on whether to reward Sesko with a place in the starting XI, or stick to the formula that has been working very nicely in recent weeks.

‘To be fair, I don’t think he had a kick apart from score the goal,’ Bruce said on talkSPORT. ‘But there’s that conundrum for Michael now, who was saying, how can I get him in the team? Do I leave him in the team? Do I start him?

‘Big decision, but you wouldn’t want to alter anything at the moment. If he keeps coming on and he’s fresh and people are tired, then he’s got the ability to score and he has done a great finish, I have to say, a great finish.’

Sesko would clearly love the opportunity to start more games, but insists he is relaxed about the situation and will just look to make the most of however many minutes he is given.

‘We are talking of course, but (Carrick) believes in me,’ he said. ‘Everyone believes in me, and they are getting me ready to start as soon as possible.

‘It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I get. I’m focused on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.

‘I’m getting settled in the league from game to game. Again, I’m not even thinking about “I have to start, I have to start”. Whenever the coach decides to put (me) on, I’m going to be there. If I get five minutes, I’m going to use them. It’s just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team.’

Carrick would not be drawn on his team selection after the 1-0 win at Everton, but did praise Sesko’s well-taken goal.

‘It was a great finish. It was a ruthless finish,’ he said. ‘I liked the way he put it away with real confidence. It was great play from [Matheus] Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo to set it up and we are dangerous on the break. I am delighted for Ben to come on and make a difference.’

Another Red Devils legend, Gary Neville, feels Carrick will hand Sesko a start against the Eagles at Old Trafford on Sunday and the striker deserves that opportunity.

‘I liked his celebration because that was an aggression I’d like to see from him,’ Neville said of Sesko’s goal against the Toffees.

‘He’s 6ft4in, he should be beating centre-backs up. When you saw him earlier on in the season he looked a little bit timid, a little bit upright, and just now he’s just started to have a little bit more power about him and he’s quite quick when he actually gets going, you see him sort of make his moves forward.

‘But that celebration, I thought, was a message to everybody – mainly those Manchester United fans over in the corner who are going wild, but that was a message saying: “Get me in this damn team, now. This is my start, I start next time.”

‘He looks like he’s growing in his game and in his body and he looks like he’s got more power in his performance. His confidence is high. I think now on Sunday, I think Michael Carrick starts him.’

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