Sesko out until at least January as United's striker crisis deepens
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is expected to miss matches until at least January with a shin impact injury, leaving Michael Carrick without an orthodox number nine.
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is expected to be sidelined until at least January with a shin injury, leaving manager Michael Carrick without his only orthodox number nine. The 23-year-old Slovenia international has not featured since being substituted in the 66th minute of United's Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on 16 September.
Multiple tests were needed to identify the problem, with sources saying the issue is an impact injury rather than shin splints, and not quite the same as the initial complaint. The problem has been persistent: Sesko missed all of pre-season with it, it troubled him last season and flared up against Liverpool in May, ruling him out of the final three Premier League matches.
Since arriving from RB Leipzig in August 2025 in a deal worth £73.7m, Sesko has made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals and adding one assist. Despite missing eight matches last season, he shared United's Premier League top-scorer billing on 11 goals with Bryan Mbeumo. This term he has scored twice, against Everton in the league and Sabah FK in the Champions League, and spoke after the latter about his relief at being injury free.
His absence will cover key Premier League fixtures including Liverpool and Arsenal, plus at least three Champions League matches. It remains to be seen whether the situation prompts United to act in the January transfer window, with a relative lack of an orthodox forward cited as a reason for their recent form.
United sit 16th, with their only league win coming against Ipswich on 30 August, and have not won in any competition since 10 September. After the 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, though the pair reportedly held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday. Carrick was widely expected to be sacked after that loss but will take charge against Chelsea on Saturday.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
