Benjamin Sesko's agent has firmly rejected the notion that his client should be labelled a 'super sub', as the £74 million forward pushes for more starting opportunities at Manchester United. The Slovenian striker has enjoyed a productive debut season in the Premier League following his high-profile summer transfer from RB Leipzig.
Impressive Impact Since January
Sesko has found the net nine times during his first campaign in England's top flight, with seven of those goals coming since the turn of the year. His form has notably improved since Ruben Amorim's departure as Manchester United manager in January, with the 22-year-old making a significant impact under interim boss Michael Carrick.
Split Appearances and Crucial Contributions
The young forward's Premier League appearances have been evenly divided this season, with 13 starts matched by 13 substitute appearances. Sesko has proven particularly effective coming off the bench, scoring four crucial goals that have boosted United's pursuit of Champions League qualification.
His substitute contributions include winning goals against Fulham and Everton, a dramatic last-minute equaliser against West Ham, and a clinching third goal against Aston Villa. These impactful performances have led to the 'super sub' moniker gaining traction among fans and pundits alike.
Agent's Strong Rebuttal
Elvis Basanovic, Sesko's representative, has pushed back strongly against this characterization during an interview with Arena Sport. "If you ask me about this name, I don't like it. I like 'super striker' much more," Basanovic stated emphatically.
"I think Benjamin is a super striker. He has started 13 games this year, coming off the bench in 13 games. He scored half of his goals when he started the game and half when he came off the bench. We can see that he is a complete striker and Benjamin is someone who deserves the name 'super striker'."
Calls for More Starting Opportunities
Given his recent form, there have been increasing calls for Sesko to feature more regularly from the outset. The forward has been named in the starting line-up just twice under Carrick's management, scoring in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on March 1st but failing to find the net during United's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle three days later.
In February, Sesko himself addressed his role at the club, demonstrating a team-first attitude. "I'm getting settled in the league from game to game," the striker explained. "Again, I'm not even thinking about 'I have to start, I have to start'. For me it's just whenever coach decides to put me there one time or not I'm just going to be there."
He added: "If I get the next minutes, five minutes, I'm going to use them and for me it's just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team."
Injury Management and League Position
Manchester United revealed on Monday that Sesko has been managing an injury in recent weeks, with the club confirming he had withdrawn from the Slovenia national squad to "ensure that he fully recovers."
Carrick's side enter the international break occupying third place in the Premier League standings, maintaining a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification. Sesko's contributions, whether from the start or as a substitute, have played a significant role in establishing this position.
