Fletcher cannot afford to bench £73.7m Man United star vs Burnley, he is 'working really hard'

Manchester United will face Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round today.

United will have to take this domestic tournament very seriously after an embarrassing exit from the Carabao Cup last term.

The FA Cup is the only practical way United could win a trophy this season.

Securing European football for next season is another major motivation to lift the coveted trophy.

United must resist any temptation to rest their key performers and that includes Benjamin Sesko.

The 22-year-old has made a steady impression since arriving in Manchester and produced his most convincing display yet against Burnley on Wednesday night.

Sesko netted twice and could have bagged a hat-trick after missing another opportunity in the second half.

He tested the goalkeeper with seven shots and dominated the air, winning eight of his 10 aerial duels.

The towering striker has stood out with his intelligent hold-up play and growing chemistry with United’s attacking unit during his first six months at the club.

United interim head coach Darren Fletcher was quick to highlight that work ethic when discussing the £73.7 million summer signing ahead of the cup tie.

Fletcher said (via ManUtd.com): “Ben has been working really, really hard. He’s a diligent lad. He trains well. He reviews his games meticulously. So he’s been striving for that moment.”

For strikers, confidence is currency and a brace against Burnley may prove invaluable for Sesko’s momentum.

The Slovenian has been an unfair target for criticism in recent weeks, becoming the latest United forward to shoulder unrealistic expectations.

Yet behind the noise, he has continued to refine his game and contribute selflessly to the team’s overall play.

Joshua Zirkzee will be desperate for a start at number nine after spending much of the season restricted to substitute roles.

However, with United’s next fixture a full week away, Fletcher would be wise to keep faith with Sesko and allow him to build on his breakthrough performance.

Stats from Sofascore.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .