Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko played no part in the club’s pre-season games, much to the disappointment of fans. The Slovenian striker is currently recovering from an injury picked up after Ibrahima Konate hurled him into the advertisement board during the win over Liverpool in May.
That incident saw Sesko miss the final three games of the season against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion. By then, though, the 23 year old had already provided the Red Devils with a healthy lead in the Premier League top-four race.
The English giants secured a draw against Sunderland and won the final two games to finish third in the league table. United have since invested wisely in the transfer window, signing Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow, with a move for Carlos Baleba also very close to completion.
The Red Devils were also in impressive form in pre-season, picking up three wins and two defeats in their six games. While Sesko failed to make an appearance, optimism remains high regarding his involvement in the new campaign.
Sesko’s rise under Carrick at United
United secured the services of Sesko from RB Leipzig last summer in their efforts to revamp the attack. The Slovenian joined Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in a new-look attacking trident at the Theatre of Dreams.
Unfortunately, Sesko endured a slow start under former head coach Ruben Amorim, managing just two goals in 17 appearances. The Portuguese’s departure in January, however, breathed new life into the young striker, who responded by scoring three goals in two games under interim manager Darren Fletcher.
The Slovenian continued his impressive form under Michael Carrick, who initially took charge in mid-January as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Sesko was a revelation under the Englishman, scoring key goals initially off the bench before impressing from the start as well.
He started the game against Liverpool and scored his 12th goal of the campaign in the 14th minute, giving his team a 2-0 lead. While the Slovenian would have to leave the pitch at half-time after the incident with Konate, United went on to pick up a 3-2 win.
Benjamin Sesko Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 30 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 2 | - | 1,637' |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 90' |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 90' |
| Total: | 32 | 32 | 12 | 1 | 2 | - | 1,817' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
That was the player’s last appearance of the campaign, but he had, by then, done enough to generate hope for the future. It now appears that Sesko has already etched his name in the history books following his run last season.
Sesko already making Premier League history
According to Opta Stats, as relayed by the club’s website, Sesko has the joint-best goalscoring record under one manager in the history of the Premier League. The young striker will have the chance to grab the record all for himself next season.
The report states: “Statisticians Opta have revealed that the 23-year-old actually enjoys the joint-best goalscoring record under a single manager in Premier League history, with the prospect of being able to move clear in the standings, if he begins the new campaign well.”
Sesko has registered a goal every 85 minutes under Carrick so far, the joint-most since the inception of the league alongside former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.
Most Minutes Per Goal under a Single Manager in the Premier League
| Name | Manager | Mins | Goals | Mins per goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michy Batshuayi | Antonio Conte | 592 | 7 | 85 |
| Benjamin Šeško | Michael Carrick | 595 | 7 | 85 |
| Kelechi Iheanacho | Manuel Pellegrini | 751 | 8 | 94 |
| Sergio Aguero | Manuel Pellegrini | 6,451 | 67 | 96 |
| Erling Haaland | Pep Guardiola | 11,031 | 112 | 98 |
Final Thoughts
United have refrained from signing a new striker this summer, preferring instead to put their trust in Sesko to explode in the No. 9 role. If the Red Devils are to achieve success this season, they will need the Slovenian firing on all cylinders.
Featured image by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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