Gary Neville says Ruben Amorim signing can be ‘game-changing’ for Man Utd | Football

Gary Neville has hailed Manchester United’s ‘complete transformation’ under Michael Carrick and backed Benjamin Sesko to be a ‘game-changing’ signing for the his former club.

United’s sensational form under caretaker boss Michael Carrick continued on Sunday as the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Palace led early through Maxence Lacroix but the defended received a straight red card for denying Matheus Cunha a goalscoring opportunity just after half-time in which proved to be the defining moment in the game.

Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting penalty against ex-United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Sesko headed the hosts in front soon after.

Sesko’s seventh goal in his last eight games proved to be enough to earn Manchester United the three points and send Carrick’s side up to third in the Premier League.

United were outside of the Champions League places at the time of Ruben Amorim’s sacking but it is not just results that have improved but also performances, with Neville describing the turnaround as a ‘complete transformation’.

Neville says £74m summer signing Sesko has been integral to United’s improved form and says he can be a ‘game-changer’ for the club by solving their striker issues.

‘I have to say the goal from Benjamin Sesko is an absolute beauty,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘It’s a brilliant header, a proper header.

‘He’s got confidence now and he got a start today which had to happen after his recent form. The confidence, the goals, the finishes… they’re some brilliant goals he’s scoring by the way.

‘He’s definitely improved enormously. Michael Carrick never picked him in the team, he didn’t pick him in the team until today so he’s obviously had doubts about him in terms of not being right or not being quite there.

‘The goal today is really good. I think he’s working Sesko into form and that’s a game-changer for Man United because they cannot have another centre-forward come to the club and fail. They just can’t.

‘[Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha have looked like United players from the start, just in terms of their confidence, power and strength.

‘But now if Sesko can grow – and he already looks physically better and quicker – then that is a big, big thing.

‘If Carrick can get the best out of him that means in the summer you can concentrate on other positions like in midfield with Casemiro leaving. You can concentrate maybe on a full-back and a centre-back because they do still have problems in those positions still that need dealing with.

‘But maybe now you can leave the attacking players because you’ve got Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno, Amad, Mount – they will cause problems to any team.

‘Michael Carrick has doubled or trebled the value of the United squad from where they were under Ruben Amorim. He’s made players that we doubted look like really good players.

‘That will please the owners of course because there’s been so must waste it’s untrue. It’s a complete transformation.’

Manchester United’s resurgence under Carrick has taken them above top-four rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool and just eight points behind second-placed Manchester City.

The Red Devils will hope to continue their bright form on Wednesday night when they travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Liam Rosenior fumes at Declan Rice incident after Arsenal beat Chelsea

MORE: Reece James admits Chelsea have a problem after ‘bitterly disappointing’ Arsenal loss

MORE: Ian Wright reveals ‘worry’ for Arsenal after win over Chelsea