Manchester United Faces Sesko Injury Setback as Squad Depth Dwindles
Manchester United arrived at Craven Cottage on Sunday with one glaring omission. There was no Benjamin Sesko on the teamsheet, not even among the substitutes, as Michael Carrick’s side were held to a draw by Fulham and their stuttering Premier League start dragged on.
The Slovenian striker was left out after feeling discomfort in the wake of Wednesday’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. The pain was all too familiar. It is a recurrence of the shin problem that already wiped out more than two months of his year, ruling the 23-year-old out of United’s final three games last season and costing him the entirety of pre-season.
United had eased him back carefully. Sesko returned as a substitute against Hull on the opening weekend and has since made six appearances across all competitions. Just as he looked ready to build rhythm, the same injury has flared again.
Carrick: “We’re not sure with Ben yet”
Speaking after the draw at Fulham, Carrick cut a cautious figure when asked for clarity on his No 9.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet,” he said. “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.”
No timeframe, no guarantees. Just another question mark over a season that has already started with a limp. United have managed only one win from their opening five league matches, and Sesko’s absence strips away one of their few genuine penalty-box focal points.
For a side struggling to turn possession into pressure, losing a central striker to a repeat injury is more than an inconvenience. It’s a tactical problem and a psychological one.
Thin positives at Craven Cottage
There was at least a sliver of good news in west London. Luke Shaw walked back into the starting XI, offering balance and experience down the left that United have badly missed. On the bench, £70 million summer signing Carlos Baleba featured in a matchday squad for the first time since his ankle issue, a small but important step in his integration.
“Luke coming back is good for the squad,” Carrick said before kick-off. “And having Carlos in the group for the first time… is important today.”
Those returns matter, yet the broader injury picture still looks bleak. Matthijs de Ligt travelled with the group to London but was not fit enough to be involved. Amad Diallo remains on the outside looking in, still waiting for his first appearance of the campaign.
An uneasy international break
The timing of the international break offers United breathing space, but not much comfort. The club’s medical staff now have three weeks to assess a squad dotted with issues and to determine how serious Sesko’s setback really is.
It is not yet clear whether he will withdraw from Slovenia duty. The same uncertainty surrounds Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, both doubts for England because of ongoing fitness problems. For Carrick, the risk of players travelling, training, and possibly aggravating knocks hangs over the break.
This pause will define how prepared United are for what comes next.
Brutal run on the horizon
When domestic football resumes, the margin for error shrinks quickly. United host Tottenham on 10 October in a game that already feels weighty given their early league form. Then comes a trip to Spain and a high-stakes Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid, a fixture that demands intensity, physicality and clarity in attack.
Carrick needs answers from his medical team, and he needs them soon. Will Sesko be ready to lead the line when the fixtures turn hostile, or will United be forced to navigate a critical stretch without the striker they built part of this season around?
