Michael Owen Defends Benjamin Sesko’s Manchester Derby Omission

Benjamin Sesko’s Manchester United future has come under fresh scrutiny after former Red Devils striker Michael Owen defended manager Michael Carrick’s decision to leave him on the bench for the Manchester derby. Owen believes Sesko is still developing and does not yet rank among the top 10 centre-forwards in world football.

Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal in a match that also saw City reduced to 10 men. Sesko eventually entered the contest from the bench, but he was unable to change the result.

The decision to omit the Slovenia international from the starting lineup attracted attention because he had scored in each of his previous two appearances. However, Owen believes Carrick made the correct call given Sesko’s limited preparation and playing time at the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign.

Michael Owen agrees with Carrick’s Sesko decision

Owen has questioned whether Sesko currently possesses the level required to lead a Manchester United side with ambitions of challenging for the Premier League title. While he acknowledged the striker’s potential, the former England international believes there is still considerable development ahead.

Sesko joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig last summer in a deal worth £74 million. His first Premier League campaign produced 11 goals in 30 appearances, giving the club reason to believe he could become an important attacking player.

However, his preparation for the current season was disrupted by a shin injury. Sesko missed Manchester United’s entire pre-season programme, leaving him short of match fitness when competitive football began.

That lack of preparation has contributed to a slow start in terms of minutes. The 23-year-old had made only four Premier League appearances during the current campaign before the derby, with every one of those outings coming from the substitutes’ bench.

Owen therefore believes Carrick was justified in selecting a different attacking setup against Manchester City rather than immediately handing Sesko his first league start of the season.

Sesko had scored in his previous two appearances

The timing of the decision made it more interesting because Sesko had recently found the net. He scored against Everton before also getting on the scoresheet against Sabah FK, giving him some positive momentum ahead of the derby.

Despite those goals, Carrick opted not to start him against City. Owen’s argument is that two scoring appearances do not necessarily outweigh the larger picture surrounding the forward.

Sesko had not played during pre-season and was still building his fitness after injury. Starting a high-intensity Manchester derby against a strong City side would therefore have represented a significant step up from his limited minutes.

From Owen’s perspective, there is no reason for Manchester United to panic about the decision. Sesko can continue developing through regular appearances and gradually take on a larger role as his fitness and experience improve.

Owen says Sesko is not yet among the world’s best strikers

The strongest part of Owen’s assessment was his claim that Sesko is not currently among the top 10 centre-forwards in world football.

That is a significant standard for a Manchester United striker, particularly because the club’s long-term ambition is to compete for the biggest trophies in England and Europe. Owen believes a team with those goals ultimately needs a centre-forward who can be regarded as one of the best players in his position.

Sesko may have the potential to reach that level, but Owen does not believe he has done enough yet. The distinction is important: Owen’s criticism was focused on Sesko’s current status rather than ruling out his potential development.

The former Manchester United forward suggested that increased playing time and experience could help Sesko make the next step. For a relatively young striker, regular exposure to Premier League football could be crucial in turning potential into consistent elite-level production.

Why Sesko still has time to develop

Sesko is only 23 and remains relatively early in his Premier League career. His 11 goals in 30 league appearances last season showed that he can contribute, but Manchester United will expect his numbers and overall influence to increase if he is eventually to become their first-choice striker.

The biggest challenge is consistency. Scoring in isolated matches can demonstrate quality, but elite centre-forwards are expected to influence games regularly, especially when their team is chasing major trophies.

Sesko also needs time to become fully comfortable with the demands of English football. The Premier League presents different physical and tactical challenges, and adapting to those demands can take time even for highly rated forwards.

His interrupted pre-season makes the situation more complicated. A full summer of preparation would normally allow a player to build fitness, establish rhythm and work on tactical relationships with teammates. Sesko missed that opportunity because of his injury.

Manchester United need a world-class centre-forward

Owen’s broader argument goes beyond Sesko. He believes Manchester United’s ambitions require an elite striker capable of competing with the best forwards in world football.

The club have spent considerable resources rebuilding their squad and want to return to the top of English football. For Owen, the centre-forward position will remain a key part of that process.

Having a striker who consistently converts chances, contributes in important matches and can carry an attacking line through difficult periods can make a major difference over a 38-game Premier League season.

That does not necessarily mean Manchester United have to abandon Sesko. Instead, Owen’s comments suggest that the club must continue assessing whether the Slovenian can develop into that type of player.

If Sesko progresses as expected, his age gives Manchester United time to build around him. If he fails to make the required jump, the club may eventually have to consider another option at the top of the attack.

Sesko entered the derby in the second half

Carrick eventually turned to Sesko during the Manchester derby, bringing him on around the 67th minute. The substitution came seven minutes after Haaland had scored the only goal of the contest.

That meant Sesko had roughly the final stages of the match to make an impact. However, Manchester United could not find an equalizer before the final whistle.

The appearance was still useful for Sesko because it added more competitive minutes following his limited involvement at the beginning of the season. Even without producing a goal or assist, these appearances can help him gradually rebuild his rhythm.

For Carrick, the decision also demonstrated that Sesko remains part of the plans. Leaving him out of the starting XI did not mean leaving him completely out of the match.

Manchester United’s difficult start adds pressure

The discussion around Sesko is happening against the backdrop of Manchester United’s disappointing opening to the 2026-27 Premier League season.

After four league matches, United have won only once and sit 13th in the table. That record means every selection decision receives additional attention, particularly when a high-profile signing is involved.

The Manchester derby defeat increased the pressure because United were unable to take advantage of City playing with 10 men. The loss also left the team searching for an immediate response.

Under those circumstances, supporters will naturally debate whether Sesko should have started. Owen, however, believes the manager should not be judged harshly for keeping the forward on the bench.

Brighton provide another major test for United

Manchester United do not have much time to dwell on the derby because they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The fixture represents an important opportunity for United to regain confidence, but Brighton arrive in excellent form. The Seagulls defeated Coventry City 5-0 on Sunday and currently sit fifth in the Premier League with seven points.

Brighton have also scored more goals than any other team in the Premier League after four matches, with 13 goals to their name. Their attacking form makes them a particularly difficult opponent for a United side that has struggled to find consistency.

The cup fixture could therefore provide Sesko with another opportunity to earn significant minutes. If Carrick decides to rotate his team, the striker could be given more responsibility as he continues building his match fitness.

Sesko’s next opportunity could be important

The Carabao Cup match could become an important moment for Sesko’s development. A strong performance would not immediately prove that he belongs among the world’s elite, but it could strengthen his case for more opportunities.

Forwards often need a run of matches to establish confidence. Sesko has not yet had that luxury this season because of his injury and lack of pre-season preparation.

If he receives regular minutes and begins producing goals consistently, the conversation around his place in the team could change quickly. Manchester United supporters are likely to be patient if they can see clear progression.

At the same time, the club cannot afford to ignore immediate results. United need victories, and every attacking player must contribute to that objective. Sesko will therefore have to balance his long-term development with the demands of performing now.

Last season’s numbers show promise but room for improvement

Sesko’s 11 Premier League goals in 30 appearances during the previous campaign provide a useful starting point. Those numbers show that he can score in England, but they also leave room for improvement if he wants to become a genuine elite-level striker.

Manchester United will ultimately want a forward who can deliver consistently across an entire season. That means scoring against strong opponents, converting important chances and maintaining productivity even when the team is struggling.

Sesko has the physical profile and attacking potential to continue improving, but his next stage will be about turning those qualities into dependable output.

Owen’s assessment therefore reflects a reasonable distinction between potential and established status. Sesko may eventually become one of the best centre-forwards in football, but he has not reached that level yet.

What should Manchester United do with Sesko?

The most logical approach may be to give Sesko a controlled but meaningful run of opportunities. He needs competitive minutes after missing pre-season, and Manchester United need more information about what he can produce when fully fit.

That does not mean he must start every match. Rotation can allow Carrick to manage his workload while still giving him enough football to build confidence and sharpness.

His performances should then determine his role. If Sesko begins scoring regularly and improving his overall contribution, he can naturally move closer to becoming a first-choice option.

If his development stalls, Manchester United will have to reconsider their long-term attacking plans. For now, however, there is no need to make a final judgment on a 23-year-old who is still recovering his rhythm after an interrupted pre-season.

Final Verdict

Michael Owen has backed Michael Carrick’s decision to leave Benjamin Sesko out of Manchester United’s starting XI for the derby against Manchester City. His argument is based largely on the striker’s current development, limited minutes and lack of pre-season preparation.

Owen believes Sesko is not yet among the 10 best centre-forwards in world football, but he has also suggested that greater experience and regular playing time could help the youngster reach a higher level.

Sesko’s previous two goals show that he has the ability to make an impact, while his age means Manchester United still have time to develop him. The bigger question is whether he can eventually become the elite striker Owen believes the club needs to challenge for the Premier League.

With Brighton coming to Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup, Sesko could have another opportunity to build match fitness and make his case. His next few appearances may be important in determining how quickly he can move from promising signing to established Manchester United forward.