Owen Hargreaves defended Benjamin Sesko after Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup, saying there is just too much pressure on the club’s sole striker.
United will almost definitely end the season trophy-less after losing 2-1 to Brighton within the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Brajan Gruda and former Red Devil Danny Welbeck put the Seagulls on top of things before Sesko pulled one back late on from a header.
It was the 22-year-old’s third goal in two games nevertheless it was too little too late, with teenager Shea Lacey sent off within the dying minutes of his Old Trafford debut.
The sacking of Ruben Amorim has not resulted in an upturn of form but Sesko seems to have improved after scoring just twice in his first 17 appearances following his £74million transfer from RB Leipzig.
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Hargeaves believes the perfect is yet to return for the Slovenia international but slammed United for leaving him because the only recognisable striker at Old Trafford.
‘It was an excellent header from him,’ the previous United and England midfielder said on TNT Sports.
‘He’s a threat, he’s shown that and I feel there’s a lot room to enhance. Physically, he’s got some amazing traits. I feel he’ll get well and higher.
‘However the onus shouldn’t just be on Benjamin Sesko to attain goals.
‘Back within the day, United had 4 or five strikers. You consider Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Then they’d young lads coming through: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, [Carlos] Tevez.
‘It shouldn’t just be Benjamin Sesko, a young man still learning his trade. We saw that with Rasmus Hojlund and the way that ended, he’s on loan.
‘So that you’ve got one other young lad that’s attempting to bear the burden of scoring all of the goals and I feel that’s rather a lot for one, young player.’
Sesko is the one first-team No.9 at United currently, as while Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha can play at centre-forward, they’re more natural No.10s.
He was signed to interchange the aforementioned Hojlund who was in the same predicament for the last two seasons: the club’s only natural striker who was still adjusting to the Premier League.
Following Sesko’s arrival, Hojlund, who cost £71m from Atalanta, was shipped out on loan to Napoli for the season, once more leaving the club with limited options up front.
There have been many calls for United to sign a more experienced striker to assist Sesko however the club’s transfer plans are up within the air after Amorim’s departure.
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