Benjamin Sesko's Injury Setback at Manchester United

Benjamin Sesko’s stop-start Manchester United career has hit another setback, with the striker undergoing tests on a shin injury that has ruled him out of Slovenia’s upcoming fixtures.

Shin problem halts international return

The 23-year-old will stay in Manchester rather than join up with the national team, missing Slovenia’s two matches against Scotland as well as games against North Macedonia and Switzerland while he continues his rehabilitation at Carrington.

Sesko sat out United’s 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday because of the issue. According to GiveMeSport, he is due to undergo examinations today to determine the full extent of the damage, with no clear timeline yet for his return.

Slovenian outlet Ekipa, cited by Sport Witness, painted a worrying picture. They report the injury “doesn’t look good because of history and past patterns” and highlight fears that the problem could be chronic. The concern stems from the type of condition that can cause persistent bone pain even without a clear fracture, something Sesko has reportedly battled before.

An MRI scan in London is expected to provide a more definitive diagnosis and shape expectations over how long United and Slovenia will be without him.

Big fee, small minutes

United paid £74 million to bring Sesko to Old Trafford in August 2025, but the move has yet to ignite. Michael Carrick has consistently preferred Matheus Cunha through the middle, leaving Sesko to scrap for minutes as an impact substitute.

He has scored twice in six appearances in all competitions this season, a modest return that reflects his limited game time as much as his finishing. The Fulham absence only underlined the stop-start nature of his campaign.

For Slovenia, the blow is just as sharp. Sesko has 16 goals in 45 caps and is already the attacking reference point for his country. A strong international window might have given him the platform – and confidence – to come back to Manchester with momentum. That door has closed, at least for now.

Debate over Carrick’s use of Sesko

The injury lands in the middle of a fierce debate over how United have handled their expensive No 9.

After United’s 2-2 draw with Everton, Paul Scholes argued that Sesko should be central to Carrick’s plans, calling him a potential “focal point” and admitting he finds it “very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre-forward.”

Michael Owen took the opposite view. He sees Sesko, at this stage, as a “great impact player” rather than the finished article, insisting the forward is not yet the “real deal” who can drag United back into Premier League title contention.

That tug-of-war over perception will now be paused while medical staff try to solve a more pressing problem: getting him fit.

United’s injury list grows

Sesko is not alone in staying put during the international break. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have also withdrawn from England duty after being assessed by United’s medical team following late substitutions in the draw at Fulham.

For Carrick, the break was supposed to offer breathing space to reset a stuttering season and reassess his attacking options. Instead, it brings a fresh worry: how long his £74m striker will be stuck on the treatment table, and how many chances to prove himself will be gone by the time he’s finally ready to lead the line.