Benjamin Sesko makes squad number decision as Man United offer iconic shirt | OneFootball

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Upon Altay Bayındır’s switch to Celta Vigo, Senne Lammens has taken the Manchester United number one jersey and has consequently dropped the number 31.

As the new season begins, we could see more United players could yet change their squad numbers.

Throughout pre-season, the club maintained that no final decision had been made. Interestingly, the new training kits carried no numbers, leaving everyone guessing.

As a result, the situation has remained something of a mystery. For example, reports suggested Marcus Rashford would wear number 14, only for him to appear in the number 9 shirt during the pre-season friendly against AC Milan.

Could Rashford keep the number nine, or will Benjamin Sesko take it instead?

As the main man in attack, Benjamin Sesko might naturally have been expected to claim the vacant number nine jersey. Yet that will not be the case.

“Rashford wore the No 9, a signifier of his regained status at the club. Sesko might have been viewed as the natural successor for that number, with Rasmus Hojlund’s permanent move to Napoli confirmed, and this was discussed, but the 23-year-old Slovenian preferred to keep his No 30, which he wore at RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.”

Man United vs Hull City: Rashford back in the squad, Sesko an option from the bench

Tomorrow’s match against Hull City will finally reveal Rashford’s squad number.

Meanwhile, as the Mancunian returns to the matchday squad, attention will also turn to what role Sesko will play in the season opener.

The Slovenian hitman did not feature in any of United’s pre-season games, having missed the last three fixtures of last season through injury.

Reports this week suggested he has returned to full training.

Even so, he is unlikely to start, although he could still see minutes from the bench.

Bryan Mbeumo, who has looked sharp throughout pre-season, is expected to lead the line, while Amad, also looking dangerous, is likely to start on the right.

That said, who starts on the left between Patrick Dorgu, Rashford and Matheus Cunha remains one of the more intriguing decisions for Michael Carrick to make as the 20-time English champions kick off their new campaign.