Sesko and De Ligt Return to Training Before Premier League Kick-Off

Manchester United’s final days of pre-season brought the news the coaching staff wanted most: Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt are back in full training, just hours before the Premier League season begins.

For De Ligt, this was more than a routine session. It was a landmark. The Dutch defender joined the full group for the first time since undergoing back surgery in May, an operation that followed the injury he suffered last November.

He has endured a long, stuttering road back. Out since 30 November and forced to watch the World Cup from home, De Ligt managed only the opening 15 minutes of a training session in Dublin last week before stepping out. This time, he stayed with the squad, a clear step forward in his recovery and a welcome sight for the staff planning the early-season defensive structure.

Sesko’s return carries its own significance.

The forward missed all of United’s pre-season matches as he recovered from a lower leg injury, but there is growing optimism at the club that he could make the squad for the season opener against Hull City next Saturday. Having worked individually on the grass several times over the summer, he looked sharp in Tuesday morning’s session, moving with the freedom that had been missing at the end of last season.

That same problem had ruled him out of United’s final three matches of the previous campaign. Now, that chapter appears closed.

One key name was missing, though. Mason Mount sat out training after suffering a bruise from a stamp on his foot in the 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Stockholm, a game that offered encouragement on the pitch but left the midfielder nursing a knock.

Club sources, cited by British outlet “The Sun”, stressed that Mount’s absence is purely precautionary. Even so, he has now missed the final friendlies under Michael Carrick against Leeds United and Milan, a disruption to his rhythm just as the competitive games arrive.

While the medical updates dominate the short-term picture, United’s hierarchy is still pushing hard off the pitch.

The club plans to complete new signings before the summer window closes, with at least two additions on the agenda. Strengthening at left-back remains a priority, with Lewis Hall identified as the preferred option for that role. The recruitment team also wants a high-profile defensive midfielder to sit alongside new arrivals Youri Tielemans and Andre Santos and give the squad a stronger spine.

Fitness boosts, a cautious watch on Mount, and a transfer market still in motion: United head into the new season with key pieces returning and others yet to fall into place. The question now is how quickly this reshaped group can turn promise on the training ground into points when Hull City arrive.