Benjamin Sesko Faces Injury Setback at Manchester United
Benjamin Sesko is facing another spell on the sidelines, with the Manchester United striker set for medical examinations this week after a recurrence of a shin injury.
The problem has already forced him to pull out of the Slovenia squad for the current international break, a worrying echo of the issue that kept him out over the summer and first flared up in the spring.
United tread carefully with €76.5m striker
United moved quickly to address the situation on Monday, confirming they are handling the case with caution. In a brief but telling update, the club said: “Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”
Sesko first picked up the injury last season but pushed through the pain for around two months as United chased Champions League qualification. That decision underlined his importance to Michael Carrick’s plans. It also now frames the risk: a key forward who has never quite shaken off the problem.
The latest flare-up followed the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. Sesko missed training after that tie and played no part in the 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham, watching on as United laboured without him at Craven Cottage.
Carrick in the dark over severity
Speaking after the Fulham game, Carrick admitted the club are still searching for clarity.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game [against Brighton] so we’re assessing him. At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for [Fulham], so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point. We’ll have to see what that brings,” the United manager said.
For a player signed from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025 for €76.5 million, with a further €8.5m in potential add-ons, the timing could hardly be more frustrating. Sesko arrived as a centrepiece of United’s rebuild. Instead, his first full campaign is being shaped by medical bulletins and managed minutes.
He scored 12 goals last season, enough to hint at the threat he carries. This term, though, he has just two goals to his name and is still waiting for his first Premier League start. United already eased him back cautiously after his pre-season absence. His withdrawal from international duty underlines that the issue is far from settled.
Sesko’s last appearance for Slovenia came in October 2025. Since then, the stop-start rhythm of his club season has only added to the sense of a career momentarily stuck in second gear.
Race to be fit for Tottenham
United will use the international break to lock in a detailed rehabilitation plan, with the medical staff hoping a period of sustained rest finally draws a line under the shin problem and guards against long-term damage.
The clock is ticking. Domestic action resumes with a high-stakes fixture at Old Trafford on October 10, when Tottenham Hotspur visit Manchester.
Carrick will want his marquee forward on the pitch, not in the treatment room, when that test arrives.
