Last weekend, “The England” pub in Ljubljana, the heart of the Manchester United Supporters’ Club in Slovenia, was buzzing with excitement for the Manchester derby.

However, many bars around the capital saw televisions abruptly switched off an hour before the much-anticipated match at Old Trafford. The reason? Slovenian star Benjamin Sesko had been left on the bench by new head coach Michael Carrick.

Slovenians hold their sports icons in high regard, and in the realm of football, Sesko is the biggest name. His absence from the starting lineup was met with disappointment.

The decision was particularly surprising given Sesko’s recent challenges at Manchester United since his move from RB Leipzig. Despite a rocky start, he had been part of the lineup for the last six matches after recovering from a knee injury.

The 22-year-old forward had recently found his form, breaking a three-month goal drought by netting three goals in two games under interim manager Darren Fletcher, adding to the shock of his benching.

Benjamin Sesko has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League since making a £73.7million move from RB Leipzig to Manchester United

Sesko didn’t even make it onto the pitch during United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City after new boss Michael Carrick (left) dropped the Slovenian in his first match in charge

Still, Carrick overlooked Sesko in his first team selection for the derby, choosing instead to play Bryan Mbeumo through the middle with spectacular results as United blew away Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Slovenian’s best hope is that Carrick has another masterplan in mind for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal, and it’s one that involves him leading the attack in a gunfight with one of the Premier League’s other big striker signings last summer, Viktor Gyokeres.

Failing that, he will want to at least make it off the bench this time and have an opportunity to prove a point to Arsenal, who held talks over both players before choosing the Swede, a slightly cheaper option at £64m and five years older at 27.

It’s an interesting thought that Sesko and Gyokeres could easily have been playing for the other side at the Emirates on Sunday.

Sesko was United’s first choice to replace Rasmus Hojlund last summer. He was well known to director of recruitment Christopher Vivell from their time at Leipzig and sister club Red Bull Salzburg, but when United initially enquired about him, they were given the impression that he was bound for Arsenal.

It opened the door to the possibility of Ruben Amorim being reunited with Gyokeres, the man whose career he re-ignited at Sporting. Once he moved to Arsenal, however, United rekindled their interest in Sesko and beat Newcastle to his signature.

Neither striker has lit up English football, but Gyokeres is winning their personal battle at present with nine goals to Sesko’s five in an Arsenal team flying high at the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.

There is little doubt that Sesko’s integration has been made more difficult by playing in a spluttering United side under three different managers in the space of six months.

Sesko was United’s first choice to replace Rasmus Hojlund last summer. He was well known to director of recruitment Christopher Vivell from their time at Leipzig

The Slovenian has had some bright moments at United, most notably his brace away to Burnley earlier this month

‘Of course, all these changes, a new world, it was intense,’ Sesko told Arena Sport last week.

The timing of the Slovenian broadcaster’s visit to Carrington was a sign in itself that he was riding the crest of a wave, which made his exclusion from the derby all the more deflating in Ljubljana and Radece, his hometown 40 miles east of the capital.

‘Sport can be turbulent in any club, in any period, and it all depends on how you take it. I took it as a learning experience; something that I simply need time for, and I must say I am getting used to it. I feel at home here and truly accepted.’

Has he been an upgrade on Hojlund? ‘The jury’s still out,’ said Gary Neville in November, noting that the 6ft 5in Sesko ‘looks awkward’ and was ‘well off it compared to the other summer signings’ Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

It brought a typically frank response from Amorim who admitted that the player was struggling to come to terms with his slow start because he is ‘a control freak’.

He was referring to Sesko’s meticulous levels of preparation. ‘He’s the most dedicated young player I’ve ever seen here,’ said a United source this week.

Sesko has formed a close bond with Diogo Dalot based around the Portugal defender’s own fitness regime which, in turn, was inherited from Cristiano Ronaldo.

They are known to race each other to Carrington each day to see who can be first in. Once there, the pair use the hyperbaric chamber and the rest of the recently upgraded facilities before training.

Sesko scores the first of his two goals in that draw with Burnley – he admits adjusting to life at United under three different managers has been a challenge

The jury is still out on Sesko according to United legend Gary Neville, who says the 6ft 5in striker ‘looks awkward’

When Sesko was house-hunting in Cheshire last summer, he wanted a place with its own gym, pool, ice bath and sauna so he could continue his workouts and recovery at home.

‘These are some things I also wanted as a child, and I’m very happy that things turned out the way they did,’ he said.

‘I think that work always pays off in the details if you put all your effort into these things. Everyone is different. Some people really like to delve into the details, like me.

‘But then you have people who simply do their training, go home, live their private lives, and the next day is a new day. It all depends on what your goals are. It’s very individual.’

Sesko has brought in his own personal fitness trainer and chef. ‘I tell him that he can conjure up whatever he wants. The important thing is that he is connected with the nutritionist at the club, so he knows exactly what I need to eat to be able to play at the highest level.’

He also practices meditation to stay mentally well balanced. Sources describe a level-headed young man who is quietly driven and not easily swayed by success or failure, which is just as well.

When he arrived to sign for United, they noted the absence of the usual entourage, just Sesko and his agent Elvis Basanovic.

Steering clear of social media also helps. Sesko and his team will post the obligatory photos on Instagram after games, but he rarely reads the comments.

‘I’m more absent from social media, especially since I moved to Manchester,’ he said. ‘I am focused on my work, on my daily building and what I can improve.

Sesko (left) is a dedicated professional. When he was house-hunting in Cheshire last summer, he wanted a place with its own gym, pool, ice bath and sauna so he could continue his workouts and recovery at home

‘People react incorrectly to these things. If you don’t know what they are saying about you – which nowadays is very difficult – I have simply found my way in this direction, to remove myself from social media and live a life that is present.’

Having struggled to meet expectations under Amorim, Sesko burst into life after Fletcher stepped in as caretaker in the wake of the head coach’s sacking.

Fletcher was aware of Sesko’s strengths from his time as technical director when United first monitored his progress. He went through some videos with the player, focusing on his movement and runs into the box.

It paid off with two goals in the draw with Burnley and one in the FA Cup defeat by Brighton. Carrick and his backroom team have also been doing more one-on-one work with the players than they did under Amorim.

‘He (Carrick) is very good as a person and as a coach,’ said Sesko. ‘He has some excellent ideas and is very detail-oriented, which I really like because I’m the same kind of person. It’s already clear how meticulously he works.’

Tomorrow at the Emirates, Sesko will be hoping for the opportunity to show the new boss just what he can do.