Tim Sherwood admits mistake over Man Utd star ‘transformed’ by Michael Carrick

Tim Sherwood has offered an apology to Benjamin Sesko after dismissing the Manchester United striker as another big money flop earlier this season.

As with many other members of United’s first team squad, the summer recruit from RB Leipzig looks unrecognisable from the player who struggled so badly during the final few months of Ruben Amorim’s tenure.

The 22-year-old joined the Premier League giants in the summer for an initial fee of £66.3million but found it hard to adjust to the rigours of English football.

Indeed, Sesko scored just twice in his first 19 games in all competitions and was derided after he appeared to shy away from taking a penalty in an embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby Town.

The Slovenia international appeared to have turned a significant corner when he struck twice in a 2-2 draw at Burnley in what was the first game of Darren Fletcher’s brief caretaker spell in charge, but Sherwood was far from impressed.

He said: ‘I think the positive is Sesko scoring two goals. Hopefully he gets some confidence going. It’s took him six months to turn up at Man United and I’m pleased for the lad.

‘He’s had a tough run of it. I had him off the pitch at half-time, never to wear a Man United shirt again.

‘He’s not good enough to play for Man United. He’s turned up for one game against Burnley who are going to get relegated.’

Not deterred by that criticism, Sesko has responded by scoring five more times in his last seven games, including the winner in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, and can lay claim to being the most in-form centre forward in the top flight.

Acknowledging he went too strong, too soon, Sherwood told Boyle Sports: ‘I based my assessment on the Benjamin Sesko I saw playing under Ruben Amorim – a striker who didn’t want to stand up and take a penalty at Grimsby.

‘Even the staunchest Man United fans will admit that he wasn’t living up to expectations last year. I originally thought he’d turn out exactly like Wout Weghorst did and be another failed signing for the Red Devils, but I’ve been proven wrong and I owe him an apology!

‘Michael Carrick has completed transformed Sesko and he’s now playing to his strengths. He’s puffed his chest out, scoring great goals and scaring defenders with his pace.

‘He’s a different player to what he was a few months ago under Amorim.

‘As a substitute, he’s coming off the bench with attitude and impacting games, which is a manager’s dream for a striker.’