Benjamin Sesko finds himself at the center of a brewing controversy after Wayne Rooney's cutting assessment of the Manchester United striker's injury troubles. The 23-year-old forward has struggled with an ongoing shin problem that has severely limited his availability this season, forcing him to sit out United's 1-1 draw against Fulham before the international break. However, rather than sympathize with the injury-plagued forward, Rooney questioned the legitimacy of Sesko's ailment during an appearance on Stick to United, challenging whether a shin injury should keep a player sidelined when "unless you physically can't play, you play when you're injured." Rooney recalled his own playing days, mentioning receiving injections from the medical staff before matches to push through discomfort.
The criticism hasn't gone unnoticed, with Slovenia's manager Bostjan Cesar stepping forward to defend his player. Cesar acknowledged that Sesko is navigating "an atypical injury that requires time to heal" and emphasized the psychological toll of dealing with fitness issues for a player who "hasn't suffered many injuries in the past." The national team boss stressed that Sesko needs positive support from those around him, coupled with proper rehabilitation, during what he described as a "difficult period in his career." Cesar's intervention underscores the toll Sesko's injury woes are taking not just physically, but mentally as well, particularly given Sesko's own social media post where he expressed frustration at missing international matches.
Sesko's campaign at Old Trafford has been fragmented, with the striker yet to secure a Premier League starting berth despite scoring as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Everton. His only starts have materialized in Europe, namely the Champions League clash against Sabah and the Carabao Cup encounter with Brighton. Currently undergoing assessment at Carrington as United's medical team investigates the shin issue further, Sesko has proven eager to return, pledging on social media his commitment to "fully dedicate myself to recovery" and vowing to help both club and country "as soon as possible."
For Manchester United and manager Michael Carrick, the situation represents a mounting frustration as they search for attacking consistency this season. Sesko's unavailability creates a void in United's frontline during a campaign where depth and fitness are proving crucial. Meanwhile, Slovenia face Scotland at home in their next fixture, a match Sesko will watch from the sidelines as he continues his recovery bid. The international break offers both player and club precious time to resolve what has become one of the early season's nagging obstacles to progress.