Benjamin Sesko's Injury Concerns at Manchester United

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

United’s £74m striker stuck on the sidelines

United spent £74million to bring Sesko to Old Trafford in August 2025, but the move has yet to catch fire. Michael Carrick has consistently favoured Matheus Cunha through the middle, leaving Sesko to scrap for minutes as an impact option from the bench.

The numbers tell the story of a campaign that never quite got going. Two goals in six appearances across all competitions, plenty of late cameos, and now a spell in the treatment room. He was absent from Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham with the shin problem that has now become a major concern.

Instead of heading off on international duty, Sesko will stay at Carrington. According to GiveMeSport, he will miss Slovenia’s two clashes with Scotland as well as their games against North Macedonia and Switzerland, remaining in Manchester to continue his rehabilitation.

The same report states that Sesko is undergoing exams on Monday to assess the full extent of the damage. For now, there is no clear timeframe on when he will be back.

Slovenian concern over chronic issue

Back home, the tone is far from relaxed. Slovenian sports newspaper Ekipa, cited by Sport Witness, report that the injury “doesn’t look good because of history and past patterns.”

Their worry goes deeper than a simple knock. Ekipa highlight that the kind of condition which can cause prolonged bone pain without a clear fracture is usually chronic in nature. That line has set alarm bells ringing in Slovenia, where there is real concern that Sesko’s shin problems could dog him for months rather than weeks.

This is not the first time he has had to manage this type of issue, and that history is exactly what is spooking those close to the national team setup. An MRI scan in London is expected to provide more clarity on the severity of the problem and a realistic return date.

For Slovenia, it is a significant blow. Sesko has already scored 16 goals in 45 appearances for his country and is the obvious spearhead of their attack.

Missed chance to reset – and a debate at Old Trafford

This international break was shaping up as an opportunity for Sesko to reset. A run of games in familiar colours, a few goals, and he could have returned to Old Trafford with sharper edges and renewed confidence.

That chance has gone. The frustration around his season grows, and with it the debate over how Carrick has handled him.

After United’s 2-2 draw with Everton, Paul Scholes argued that Sesko should be central to the plan. He described the forward as a potential “focal point” and admitted he finds it “very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre-forward.”

Not everyone agrees. Michael Owen has taken the opposite view, branding Sesko a “great impact player” at this stage of his development rather than the “real deal” who can yet haul United back into the Premier League title picture.

The argument will have to pause while the medical team delivers its verdict. For now, Sesko’s biggest task is simply getting fit.

Injury list grows for Carrick

Sesko is not the only player staying put during the break. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have also withdrawn from England duty after being assessed by United’s staff following late knocks in the draw at Fulham.

Carrick now faces the prospect of navigating a crucial stretch of the season with his forward line bruised and his big-money striker under medical scrutiny.

United paid for a long-term solution in Sesko. The question now is how long they will have to wait before they truly see it.