Edwin van der Sar warns Michael Carrick made mistake with £74m Man Utd star vs Leeds

Van der Sar watched his old side suffer a miserable defeat (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar believes Michael Carrick made a mistake starting Benjamin Sesko against Leeds United.

United were outplayed by Leeds in the first-half of Monday night’s Premier League clash and despite pulling one back through Casemiro in the second period, suffered a 2-1 defeat to their old rivals.

Carrick was forced into two changes on the night with Kobbie Mainoo picking up an injury and Harry Maguire serving a suspension with Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez replacing them. Noussair Mazraoui also started at right-back with Diogo Dalot only deemed fit enough for the bench after recent illness.

Bryan Mbeumo has regularly started through the middle since Carrick’s arrival with Sesko thriving in his role as a super-sub with four of his five goals under the interim manager coming off the bench.

The Slovenia international started ahead of Mbeumo on Monday night to little effect with Jaka Bijol having a good night up against his countryman.

Van der Sar, who won four Premier League titles in six years in Manchester, felt Mainoo’s absence on the night played a role in what was a limp performance from the hosts.

But the Dutch legend also suggested starting Sesko was not the right call.

Sesko laboured up top against Leeds (Picture: Getty)

‘What Carrick has done bringing Mainoo back in, it is important for United to have youth coming through,’ van der Sar told Premier League Productions.

‘He represents certain values and it has made him feel appreciated again has made a difference.

‘Casemiro and Ugarte are similar type of players so I think they missed him. With Benjamin Sesko up front, I am not sure if that was the right option to go to.’

Sesko has a return of 10 goals in 29 appearances for United this season as United’s only traditional no9 in the squad.

Mainoo also missed the game through injury (Picture: Getty)

With United hoping to be back competing with Europe’s elite in the Champions League next season, another club great in Nicky Butt believes another striker must be signed to ease the burden.

‘I don’t think he can carry the club up front on his own, they’ll need another no9,’ Butt said. ‘He’s shown he’s got massive potential, great movement, he works his socks off. He can score a goal and you can see he’s good in the air but he’s not the complete centre-forward for United at that level. He can potentially get there.