Benjamin Sesko’s Injury Woes Impacting Manchester United and Slovenia

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

The 23-year-old will stay in Manchester rather than join his national team for their two games against Scotland and further clashes with North Macedonia and Switzerland, as he continues rehabilitation at Carrington.

Expensive signing, limited impact

United spent £74million to bring Sesko to Old Trafford in August 2025, but Michael Carrick has so far preferred Matheus Cunha through the middle. Sesko has been used largely as an impact substitute, starting sporadically and fighting to build rhythm in a side still searching for its best attacking formula.

His numbers reflect the disjointed start. Two goals in six appearances across all competitions is hardly disastrous, but nowhere near the return expected from a marquee centre-forward. He didn’t even make the squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham, with the shin issue keeping him out.

Now the concern has deepened.

According to GiveMeSport, Sesko will undergo examinations on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury. The report stresses that there is no clear timeframe yet for his return, leaving both club and country in limbo.

Slovenia fears over ‘chronic’ problem

In Slovenia, the tone is more anxious. Sports daily Ekipa, via Sport Witness, report that the injury “doesn’t look good because of history and past patterns”, pointing to a worrying trend rather than a one-off knock.

The paper highlights fears that the problem could be chronic, noting that conditions which cause prolonged bone pain without a clear fracture are often long-term in nature. Sesko has battled shin issues before, and some in the Slovenian press believe this latest flare-up could trouble him for months rather than weeks.

An MRI scan in London is expected to provide more clarity on the damage and any realistic return date. Until then, the questions keep piling up.

For Slovenia, the absence is a major blow. Sesko has scored 16 goals in 45 appearances for his country and is the focal point of their attack. For a player who might have used this international window to sharpen his edge and rebuild confidence, the timing could hardly be worse.

Carrick’s dilemma up front

The injury also feeds into a growing debate around Carrick’s handling of his forward line.

After United’s 2-2 draw with Everton, Paul Scholes argued that Sesko should be leading the line, calling him a potential “focal point” for Carrick’s attack and insisting it is “very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre-forward.”

Michael Owen sees it differently. He views Sesko, at this stage, as a “great impact player” rather than the finished article, and doubts he is yet the “real deal” capable of firing United back into the Premier League title picture.

Those arguments will now be parked while the medical team take over. But the frustration is obvious: a big-money striker, limited minutes, no sustained run of games, and now a worrying injury.

Growing injury list

Sesko is not alone in withdrawing from international duty. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo will also remain in Manchester after being assessed by club staff, having both come off late in the draw at Fulham.

For United, the break was supposed to offer breathing space and a chance to reset. Instead, it has brought fresh questions about the squad’s physical resilience and whether their £74m striker will be fit – and trusted – to lead the line when the season’s demands really start to bite.