Benjamin Sesko Faces Fresh Medical Tests Amid Injury Concerns

Benjamin Sesko is facing another unwanted date with the Manchester United medical team, with the striker set for fresh examinations this week after a recurrence of a shin injury.

The problem has already cost him his place with Slovenia for the current international break and threatens to drag on into a crucial spell of United’s season.

United tread carefully with key signing

United confirmed on Monday that they are handling the situation with caution, releasing a brief but pointed update.

“Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan,” the club said, underlining that no firm timeline will be set until specialists have taken a closer look.

Sesko first suffered the shin issue in the spring, yet played through discomfort for around two months as United chased Champions League qualification. The gamble kept him on the pitch but never truly solved the problem. Now it has come back.

The latest flare-up followed the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. Sesko skipped training in the aftermath and then missed the 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham, a game where his absence was impossible to ignore.

Carrick left waiting for answers

Speaking after the stalemate at Craven Cottage, Michael Carrick cut a measured but clearly frustrated figure when asked about his centre-forward.

“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game [against Brighton] so we’re assessing him,” Carrick 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 United’s attack, “we’ll have to see” is not the language anyone at Old Trafford wanted to hear this early in the season.

Big fee, stop-start impact

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. The price tag alone framed him as a long-term solution at centre-forward.

Last season he delivered 12 goals, a solid return for a first campaign in English football. This year tells a different story. Just two goals so far, no Premier League starts, and a rhythm constantly interrupted by fitness concerns.

United initially opted to ease him back after his disrupted pre-season, hoping a cautious approach would clear the issue for good. His withdrawal from Slovenia duty suggests the underlying problem never fully settled. He has not played for his country since October 2025.

Crucial weeks ahead

The international break now becomes less a pause in the calendar and more a window for United’s medical staff. The club plans to use this period to map out a detailed rehabilitation schedule, with the clear aim of avoiding any long-term damage to a player they see as central to their future.

A stretch of genuine rest is the hope. A lingering saga is the fear.

Domestic action resumes with a demanding fixture: Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10. Under the lights, against a direct rival, Carrick will want his main striker fit, sharp and leading the line.

Whether he gets that version of Benjamin Sesko may tell us plenty about how United’s season is going to unfold.