Manchester United Faces Injury Crisis with Benjamin Sesko Withdrawal

Manchester United’s mounting injury list grew longer on Monday as Benjamin Sesko withdrew from Slovenia duty, rounding off a bruising day of international pull-outs for the club.

The 23-year-old striker missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham with a shin problem picked up in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. United had hoped the issue was minor. It isn’t.

Sesko has now been ruled out of Slovenia’s upcoming Nations League double-header against Scotland, as well as fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland during a three-week international block.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” the club said in a statement. “Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

For United, the timing is awful. For Slovenia, it’s a major blow.

United’s casualty list grows

Sesko became the fourth United player to pull out of international action on Monday alone, underlining the strain on Michael Carrick’s squad.

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow has also left the Wales camp, despite being fit enough to take a place on the bench at Craven Cottage. His departure capped a grim day for Craig Bellamy’s side, who also lost Leeds winger Harry Wilson to a quad injury and Wrexham forward Nathan Broadhead to a separate problem.

The list does not stop there.

Sesko and Darlow now sit alongside Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo on United’s early injury ledger for this international break. Both Rashford and Mainoo were among five players to withdraw from the England squad.

Carrick confirmed that Rashford picked up what he called an “issue” at Fulham, where the forward was substituted after appearing to struggle with his hip – the same area that troubled him over the summer. It is a familiar concern, resurfacing at a crucial stage of the season.

Mainoo, who travelled to this summer’s World Cup under Tuchel but did not play a single minute, was also forced off late in the draw at Craven Cottage. Another young midfielder, another question mark over United’s depth.

Four withdrawals. One day. A club already under scrutiny now heads into the break waiting on scan results and recovery plans, hoping this is a short-term storm rather than the shape of their season.