By Basant El-Faramawy
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has been ruled out until at least January with a shin injury, the club has confirmed. The 23-year-old Slovenia international has not featured since being substituted in the 66th minute of the Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on 16 September.
Injury details and timeline
Sources indicate the problem is an impact injury rather than shin splints. Sesko missed all of pre-season with the complaint, which also troubled him last season and flared up against Liverpool in May, causing him to miss the final three Premier League matches. Multiple tests were conducted to diagnose the issue, with manager Michael Carrick frequently asking about his return date.
Season impact and statistics
Since joining United from RB Leipzig for £73.7 million in August 2025, Sesko has made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring 14 goals with one assist. Despite missing eight matches last season, he finished as the club's joint-highest Premier League scorer with 11 goals, level with Bryan Mbeumo. This term he has netted twice, against Everton in the league and Sabah FK in the Champions League.
Upcoming absences and team context
Sesko will miss crucial Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal, plus at least three Champions League matches. His absence leaves Carrick without a recognised number nine, a factor cited in United's poor recent form. The team sits 16th in the table with only one league win, against Ipswich on 30 August, and are winless in all competitions since 10 September.
Manager pressure and dressing room talks
Following a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, captain Bruno Fernandes criticised Carrick's tactics. Fernandes was an unused substitute in Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth, but the pair reportedly held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday. Carrick was widely expected to be dismissed after the Bournemouth result but will take charge of Saturday's match against Chelsea at 12:30 GMT.
