Manchester United Faces Injury Crisis as Benjamin Sesko Withdraws from Slovenia Duty

Manchester United’s mounting injury list grew longer on Monday as Benjamin Sesko pulled out of Slovenia duty, capping a bruising day of international withdrawals for the club.

The 23-year-old striker missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham with a shin problem picked up in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. United had hoped the issue might settle, but the damage was clear: Sesko will now sit out Slovenia’s upcoming Nations League double-header against Scotland, as well as fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” the club said in a statement, adding that the forward will undergo tests this week before an individual recovery plan is agreed.

Sesko’s withdrawal was the latest in a grim sequence. By Monday, he had become the fourth United player to pull out of international duty.

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow also left the Wales camp, despite being fit enough to take a place on the bench at Craven Cottage. His departure was only part of a brutal day for Craig Bellamy, who also lost Leeds winger Harry Wilson to a quad injury and Wrexham striker Nathan Broadhead to a separate problem.

Growing Injury List

For United, the list keeps growing.

Sesko and Darlow now join Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo on the early casualty sheet for this international break. Both Rashford and Mainoo were among five players to withdraw from the England squad.

Michael Carrick confirmed Rashford had picked up an “issue” at Fulham, where the forward was substituted after appearing to struggle with his hip – the same area that troubled him over the summer. Mainoo, who went to the World Cup but did not feature under Thomas Tuchel, was also taken off late in the draw.

One international window, four withdrawals, and a squad already stretched. The break was supposed to offer United some breathing space. Instead, it poses a sharper question: how long can they keep absorbing these blows before the season’s ambitions start to bend?