Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is facing an extended spell on the sidelines and is not expected to return until at least January because of a shin injury. The 23-year-old Slovenia international has been out of action since being substituted in the 66th minute of United's Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on 16 September. After undergoing multiple medical examinations to establish the exact nature of the problem, the diagnosis revealed an impact injury rather than shin splints, differing slightly from his initial issue.
Sesko, who arrived at Old Trafford from RB Leipzig in August 2025 for a £73.7m fee, had already missed the entire pre-season campaign with the complaint. The recurring issue first flared up against Liverpool in May, ruling him out of the final three Premier League fixtures of last season. Across 38 appearances in all competitions for United, he has netted 14 goals and provided one assist, finishing as the club's joint-top Premier League scorer with 11 goals alongside Bryan Mbeumo last term despite missing eight matches. After scoring twice this season—against Everton in the league and Sabah FK in the Champions League—the striker expressed his relief at being injury-free, but that respite has proven short-lived.
The extended layoff leaves manager Michael Carrick without his only orthodox number nine amid a dismal run of form. United currently sit 16th in the Premier League, having registered their solitary league victory against Ipswich on 30 August, and have failed to win in any competition since 10 September. Pressure on Carrick intensified following a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, after which club captain Bruno Fernandes publicly criticised the manager's tactical approach. Fernandes was subsequently left on the bench as an unused substitute during Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, though the pair reportedly held clear-the-air discussions on Tuesday.
Carrick was widely expected to be dismissed following the Bournemouth loss, but he will remain in the dugout for Saturday's 12:30 GMT meeting with Chelsea. Sesko is now set to miss pivotal Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as a minimum of three Champions League games. With the absence of a recognised centre-forward highlighted as a key factor in United's ongoing struggles, the club may now be pushed into entering the January transfer market for attacking reinforcements.