Šeško's Impact on Manchester United's Derby Selection Dilemma

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United eased back into the UEFA Champions League with a 4-0 stroll against Sabah FK, but the real drama now sits on Michael Carrick’s team sheet, not the scoreboard.

Benjamin Šeško has turned a quiet group-stage opener into a loud selection dilemma ahead of the Manchester derby.

Šeško’s timing could not be sharper

The Slovenian striker arrived at Old Trafford this season with expectation, then disappeared from view. An injury in early May wiped out his entire preseason and left him watching from the bench as United opened their Premier League campaign against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton without him.

He has wasted no time catching up.

After scoring at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, he backed it up with another goal here, his second in five days, and this one came with the spotlight of Europe on him. Late in the first half, he latched onto Bryan Mbeumo’s pass, glided around the Sabah goalkeeper and rolled the ball in with the calm of a man who has been playing all summer, not rehabbing.

He lasted 63 minutes before Carrick sent on Joshua Zirkzee. That change hinted at two possibilities: Šeško is still building towards full fitness, or Carrick is wrapping him in cotton wool for City. The answer lands on Sunday.

“It’s not an easy decision,” Carrick admitted afterwards. “Of course it’s not, but it’s definitely one I’d prefer to have — goals in the team and for the boys to be playing well.

“Sometimes it’s going to be a start, sometimes it’s going to be finishing the game, and we need that within the group from game to game over the season.”

What’s clear is that Šeško has forced the issue. He has done enough to demand a serious conversation about starting the derby. The puzzle is who makes way.

A ‘good’ problem with sharp edges

United’s attack suddenly looks crowded and productive. Mbeumo scored a brilliant solo goal at Everton. Matheus Cunha finally got off the mark for the season with the opener against Sabah. Marcus Rashford, who didn’t play a minute on Thursday, was United’s standout performer last weekend.

If Šeško starts against City, one of them sits.

His trump card is that he brings something the others do not. Rashford, Cunha and Mbeumo all drift, drive and interchange. Šeško pins. He offers a true No. 9, a physical reference point in the box and a clear target when United work the ball wide.

He also won over Old Trafford with work, not just goals. Early in the second half he hunted down a Sabah defender, muscled him off the ball and turned a lost cause into an attacking platform. The roar that followed almost matched the one for his finish.

“He definitely offers a different kind of threat,” Carrick said. “That’s kind of the beauty of it. We know what Ben gives us, and there’s not many around that give you what Ben does in terms of his physique, his physicality, playing on the last line, his speed to run in behind. He’s a real threat.

“It’s great to have him back at this level after working to get back to fitness. So, a couple of goals and good performances, good minutes for him. We’re really pleased with the way he’s gone.”

Šeško has turned his return from injury into a selection headache Carrick will gladly take. But the derby calculations do not end up front.

Champions League comfort, derby complications

United’s first Champions League appearance since 2023 could hardly have been more straightforward. Against Sabah, a club only nine years old and outgunned in every department, Carrick’s side cruised. Four goals, a clean sheet, and barely a moment of jeopardy. As a reintroduction to Europe, it was close to ideal.

“It was what we set out to achieve, really,” Carrick said. “I think it was a good performance, individually, collectively, pretty much all the way through the game, from start to finish.”

But while Šeško’s form is a “positive problem,” other areas are far less comfortable.

Luke Shaw started every Premier League game last season. The question all summer was whether his body could cope with the added load of European nights. Early signs are not encouraging.

He came off in the 2-2 draw with Everton because of cramps and then missed Wednesday’s training session at Carrington, officially given a “designated rest day.” He was left out of the squad entirely against Sabah and granted another day off. On its own, that might be manageable. The issue is what sits behind him.

Patrick Dorgu, who covered at left-back and set up Cunha’s opener, has largely been used as a winger under Carrick. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can both switch across but are more at home on the right. Harry Amass is a natural left-back but only 19 and untested at this level. A summer move for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall never materialised.

So, barely into September, Carrick is already rationing Shaw’s minutes. Every game becomes a choice. The derby is the one fixture he will be desperate to have his England defender ready for.

The derby looms

There is another twist to United’s preparation. The schedule has handed Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City two extra days of rest and planning. Carrick did not hide his irritation this week, describing the situation as “wasn’t ideal.”

Still, Thursday night at Old Trafford did what it needed to do. United won heavily, rotated sensibly, and saw their returning centre-forward sharpen his case to lead the line.

Šeško has scored his way into the conversation. On Sunday, we find out if he’s scored his way into the derby.