Gary Neville says £66m Manchester United signing is ‘nowhere near’, tells Ruben Amorim what to do

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Manchester United received praise for their approach against Arsenal last week in their opening Premier League fixture despite defeat – but it’s all come crashing down after the draw at Fulham.

United showed promise through new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo on the opening weekend loss against Arsenal, before old problems returned in the frustrating result away to Fulham.

Ruben Amorim’s record came back into question as it emerged he has only won 28 points in 29 Premier League matches for United, while fans have been left wondering why marquee summer signing Benjamin Sesko has started on the bench against both Arsenal and Fulham.

Sesko, a £66m signing from RB Leipzig, has featured for just 62 minutes across his two substitute appearances, registering a single shot and failing to get off the mark in two games where United needed a goal.

Gary Neville slams Benjamin Sesko fitness and performs u-turn on how to use the striker

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, United legend Gary Neville admitted he was wrong to previously encourage Ruben Amorim to play Sesko from the start at Fulham.

Having seen Sesko’s two substitute appearances, Neville now says the Slovenian is ‘nowhere near’ the fitness levels required to start in the Premier League.

“Sesko, at the moment, let’s just say it, he’s nowhere near in terms of fitness or just getting up to speed,” said Neville.

Ruben Amorim stressed after the Fulham game that Sesko ‘needs time’, adding: “It’s not easy. Sometimes you are on the bench and go to the game and the game is really fast, he’s understanding that the game is even faster than the Bundesliga.”

Gary Neville urges Ruben Amorim to start Benjamin Sesko at Grimsby in the Carabao Cup

United head to the compact setting of Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park this week in a Carabao Cup second round tie they usually avoid due to European commitments.

As Amorim looks to avoid the ultimate upset, Neville has urged the manager to use the clash with the League Two opposition to give Sesko the match-sharpness he needs.

“He is going to have to get him in against Grimsby and give him 90 minutes,” Neville conceded. “He’s going to have to probably play him against Burnley next Saturday, just to get him going, because you can see he needs football.

After the Grimsby and Burnley fixtures, United face Manchester City and Chelsea after the international break, prompting Neville to add: “What you can’t do is let a player of that value, that potential, just keep being on the bench.”