Benjamin Sesko's Injury Woes: Concerns for Manchester United and Slovenia

Benjamin Sesko’s stuttering Manchester United season has taken another unwanted twist, with the striker undergoing tests on a shin problem that will keep him out of Slovenia’s upcoming fixtures.

The 23-year-old will stay in Manchester rather than join up with his national team, as medical staff try to pin down the full extent of an issue that some in Slovenia fear could be long-term.

Big-money signing, stop-start impact

United spent £74million to bring Sesko to Old Trafford in August 2025, but the campaign has yet to ignite for the forward or his club. Michael Carrick has consistently turned to Matheus Cunha as his first-choice centre-forward, leaving Sesko to scrap for minutes from the bench.

He has still managed two goals in six appearances across all competitions, but most of those outings have come as an impact substitute. He did not feature at all in the 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday, with a shin injury ruling him out.

That setback has now escalated. According to GiveMeSport, Sesko will miss Slovenia’s two clashes with Scotland as well as their games against North Macedonia and Switzerland. Instead of flying out to join the national squad, he will remain at Carrington to continue his rehabilitation.

The report states that Sesko is scheduled to undergo examinations on Monday to assess the damage and shape a treatment plan. At this stage, there is no clear timeframe for his return.

Growing concern in Slovenia

The tone from Slovenia is more worrying. Sports daily Ekipa, cited by Sport Witness, reports that the injury “doesn’t look good because of history and past patterns” related to Sesko’s shin problems.

They highlight fears that the underlying condition could be chronic. As the paper notes, issues that cause prolonged bone pain without a clear fracture are often long-lasting and difficult to shake off.

That possibility is fuelling concern that Sesko could be hampered for months, not weeks. This is not the first time he has had to deal with discomfort in the same area, and the recurrence has set alarm bells ringing.

An MRI scan in London is expected to offer crucial clarity on the severity of the problem and when he might realistically be available again for both club and country.

Sesko has already built a significant international profile, with 16 goals in 45 appearances for Slovenia. A strong break with the national team might have been exactly what he needed to reset his club form. That opportunity has vanished.

Debate over Carrick’s use of Sesko

The injury arrives in the middle of a fierce debate about Sesko’s role under Carrick. Many feel the striker has not been given enough time to grow into the shirt before this latest setback.

After United’s 2-2 draw with Everton, Paul Scholes argued that Sesko should be the “focal point” of the attack, and admitted he finds it “very difficult to watch a Manchester United team without a centre-forward.” It was a clear call for a more traditional No 9 presence, and Sesko was the obvious candidate.

Michael Owen, though, sees the situation differently. He has described Sesko as a “great impact player” at this stage of his development, but not yet the “real deal” capable of leading a title-chasing side over a full season. In Owen’s eyes, United still need more from him before he can be trusted as the main man.

That argument will now be put on hold while the striker works his way back. Any chance of using this international window to sharpen his form and confidence has gone.

United’s injury list grows

Sesko is not alone in staying behind during the break. Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have also withdrawn from England duty after being assessed by United’s medical team, having both been substituted late in the draw at Fulham.

For Carrick, the picture is clear enough. A forward line already under scrutiny has lost another option, and the club’s £74m striker is stuck in the treatment room rather than staking his claim on the pitch.

The next scan will tell United how serious this is. The bigger question is whether this is just an early-season interruption, or the start of a recurring problem that reshapes Sesko’s trajectory at Old Trafford.