Manchester United have confirmed that Benjamin Sesko’s shin injury has recurred, forcing the striker to withdraw from the Slovenia squad during the current international break, with tests this week set to determine his recovery plan.
The 23-year-old suffered a setback with the same issue that ruled him out over the summer, and while it is not thought to be serious, Sesko could still require a period of rest before returning to full training at Carrington.
Sesko is among several United players missing international duty this window, with the club confirming his withdrawal from Slovenia’s squad in a statement on Monday.
What United have said
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United’s statement, reported by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, said Sesko will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan. The setback follows training absences after United’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, with Sesko then missing the trip to Fulham entirely.
United’s next fixture is the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on October 10, and whether Sesko is available for that game should become clearer once further tests are completed. He has started just two games this season, none of them in the Premier League, though he has still managed two goals from limited minutes.
A problem that never quite went away
This is not a new issue. Sesko originally picked up the injury after a kick to the shin at the start of spring but continued playing through it until Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford in May, a stretch that ultimately cost him the closing weeks of last season.
He missed the whole of pre-season as a result and was pushing for a return in August, with frequent appearances at Carrington in June forming part of his rehabilitation. According to Whitwell, Sesko was held back longer than normal to try to ensure the injury was fully healed – a cautious approach that now looks to have only delayed the inevitable. He still managed 12 goals in his debut campaign following his €76.5million move from RB Leipzig last summer.
Slovenia miss out again
The recurrence also costs Slovenia their leading striker, with Sesko having scored 16 goals in 45 appearances for his country. Injuries have kept him away from international duty since October 2025, extending a frustrating run for both club and country.
In an Instagram statement, Sesko said he was sorry to miss the upcoming matches and that his focus now was on recovering fully before returning to help both Slovenia and United again. There is no fixed timeline yet – that will depend on what this week’s tests show.