Sherwood Eats Humble Pie Over Sesko: From "Not Good Enough" to United's Transformed Weapon

Tim Sherwood has performed a complete about-face on Benjamin Sesko, confessing that his earlier dismissal of the Manchester United forward was premature and misguided.

The former Tottenham boss had been scathing about the 22-year-old following a two-goal showing in January's 2-2 draw with Burnley, suggesting at the time that Sesko simply wasn't operating at the required standard for a club of United's stature. Sherwood even went so far as to claim he'd have hooked him at the interval and never let him pull on a red shirt again.

Things looked decidedly inauspicious when Sesko arrived at Old Trafford last summer as part of a £74m package from Leipzig, alongside fellow recruits Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. While his new teammates hit the ground running, Sesko endured a laborious settling-in period, struggling to adapt to the rigours of English football and attracting considerable stick for his early-season struggles.

But the Slovenian has since found his rhythm in spectacular fashion. A run of four goals in five Premier League outings has lifted his tally to nine across all competitions in 25 appearances, and Sherwood now recognises he fundamentally misjudged the situation.

Speaking to Boyle Sports, the pundit acknowledged his error. Sherwood explained that his original assessment was coloured by Sesko's performances under Ruben Amorim, during which the striker appeared reluctant to shoulder responsibility—pointing to his refusal to take a penalty at Grimsby as evidence. He'd predicted Sesko would follow the same trajectory as Wout Weghorst, becoming yet another expensive flop on the United conveyor belt.

That narrative, however, has been thoroughly rewritten. Under interim manager Michael Carrick's guidance, Sesko has become a different proposition entirely. Sherwood credits the boss with unlocking the forward's potential, allowing him to play to his considerable strengths. The pace that terrorises defences is now on full display, his finishing has sharpened, and his mentality has hardened noticeably.

Even as a substitute, Sesko brings an edge and intensity that any manager would relish, making an immediate impact when introduced from the bench.