Manchester United Blocks Benjamin Sesko from Slovenia Duty Due to Injury

Benjamin Sesko’s stop-start Manchester United career has hit another frustrating snag, and this time it is dragging his country into the storm.

United have refused to release the 23-year-old striker for Slovenia’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, with the club insisting his long-running shin problem needs to be managed in Manchester rather than on international duty.

Club vs country, again

Sesko missed the end of last season with pain in his shin. He then sat out the entire pre-season, only returning as a substitute in the opening Premier League game of the 2026-27 campaign against Hull City.

Since then, it has been a familiar pattern: brief glimpses, followed by more questions.

He has two goals in six appearances for United this term, but his rhythm has been disrupted. He laboured through the EFL Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, then disappeared from the squad entirely for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham.

Slovenia had called him up for a demanding Nations League schedule: two games against Scotland, plus meetings with North Macedonia and Switzerland. For a country of Slovenia’s size, having their leading centre-forward available is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Instead, they are told he is staying put.

United will not even allow Sesko to fly out to Slovenia to have the injury assessed by the national team’s medical staff, a stance that has reportedly deepened the strain between club and federation during his time at Old Trafford.

United close ranks

The club’s position was laid out in a firm statement.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” it read.

“The striker had been called up by head coach Bostjan Cesar for two games against Scotland, plus meetings with North Macedonia and Switzerland, but he will now no longer join the squad.

“Sesko last appeared in our Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion, but was absent from the matchday squad for our most recent encounter with Fulham. Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

That “individual recovery plan” is now the club’s shield. Everything runs through Carrington, on United’s terms.

Carrick cautious, Tottenham in sight

Michael Carrick cut a careful figure when pressed on Sesko’s status after the Fulham game. The United head coach made it clear the forward was nowhere near ready.

“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game, we’re assessing him,” Carrick told reporters.

“At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for today, so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point. We’ll have to see what that brings.”

Inside the club, there is hope – but not certainty – that Sesko will be available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10. It is a big fixture, and United know they need more firepower. Whether his body cooperates is another matter entirely.

A talent still waiting to ignite

Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig last summer with the profile of a modern United striker: tall, mobile, with clear upside. The numbers so far tell a mixed story.

He has 14 goals and one assist in 38 appearances for the club in all competitions. In the Premier League, it is 12 goals and one assist across 34 matches.

Those figures hint at potential rather than dominance. He has produced moments that suggest he could grow into a leading forward at Old Trafford, but the consistency has not followed. Now the injuries are chipping away at his momentum.

For Slovenia, the frustration is obvious. For United, the priority is equally clear: protect an asset they believe can still become a cornerstone of their attack.

The next few weeks will show whether this is just a minor setback, or the start of a nagging problem that shapes Sesko’s season – and possibly his standing for both club and country.