Benjamin Sesko's Injury Update: Concerns Grow at Manchester United
Benjamin Sesko is facing another spell of uncertainty after suffering a recurrence of the shin injury that has stalked his first months at Manchester United.
The Slovenian forward has withdrawn from his national team squad for the current international break and will undergo medical tests this week, with United’s staff now trying to understand exactly how serious the problem is.
Lingering injury, rising concern
The issue is not new. Sesko originally picked up the shin injury in the spring but played through the pain for around two months as United pushed to secure Champions League qualification. The gamble kept him on the pitch, but it has clearly not gone away.
United released an official update on Monday, confirming the fresh concern and outlining the next steps: “Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.” The wording underlines the uncertainty. Nobody at the club is yet prepared to put a timeline on his return.
The forward felt pain again after the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. He missed training in the aftermath and did not feature in the 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham, absent from the squad at Craven Cottage.
Carrick left waiting
Michael Carrick, speaking after that Fulham draw, could offer little clarity.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game [against Brighton] so we’re assessing him,” the United manager said. “At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for [Fulham], so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point. We’ll have to see what that brings.”
For a player signed to be a focal point of the attack, the stop-start nature of his season is becoming a theme.
Big fee, slow start
Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025 for €76.5 million, with a further €8.5m in potential add-ons attached to the deal. It was a statement signing, a move that signalled United’s intention to build their front line around him for the long term.
His first campaign brought 12 goals, enough to hint at what he could become. This season has been far more subdued. He has scored just twice so far and is still waiting for his first Premier League start. The club managed his minutes carefully after he missed pre-season, but the latest setback suggests the underlying problem never fully healed.
Sesko has not played for Slovenia since October 2025. His withdrawal from the current international window only deepens the sense that this is now a nagging issue rather than a one-off knock.
United’s delicate balancing act
United’s medical staff will use the international break to piece together a detailed rehabilitation plan. The priority is clear: protect Sesko from long-term damage, even if it means short-term frustration for Carrick.
The hope inside the club is that a sustained period of rest, combined with a tailored programme, will finally settle the shin problem and allow Sesko to build rhythm rather than constantly reset.
There is little margin for error. United return to domestic action with a demanding fixture: Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10. It is exactly the kind of game Sesko was bought to influence.
Whether he is fit enough to stand at the centre of United’s attack that night will say plenty about how carefully – and how successfully – this latest injury is handled.
