Bijol defends Sesko after Scholes and Butt mock Manchester United striker's shin injury

Slovenia international Jaka Bijol has come to Benjamin Sesko’s defence after former Manchester United midfielders Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt cast doubt on the severity of the striker’s shin injury, which ruled him out of United’s 0-0 draw with Fulham on Saturday and the subsequent international break.

Sesko reported discomfort in his shin ahead of the Fulham fixture and was left out of the squad. United manager Michael Carrick confirmed the issue after the match, and on Monday the club announced Sesko had withdrawn from Slovenia’s squad, adding that he would “undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

Despite that official update, Scholes and Butt were sceptical on their podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Football. Scholes said: “If it isn’t broken, just wear your shin pads,” with Butt adding: “You’re a player — you either break your shin or you play!”

Bijol, Sesko’s Slovenia team-mate, pushed back firmly. “I hope and believe that Beni knows how to distance himself from this kind of pressure,” he said. “When things aren’t going your best on the pitch and you have certain doubts, reading things like this can make your confidence even worse. He shouldn’t pay too much attention to it, since we all know what quality he has. He himself knows what kind of footballer he is, and I think he always shows it with incredible things on the pitch.”

Sesko himself addressed the situation on Tuesday morning via Instagram, writing in Slovenian: “I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team’s upcoming matches. I have always played for Slovenia — and always will — with heart and pride. Right now, the most important thing is to focus fully on my recovery. I am already working on getting back on the pitch as soon as possible to help both the national team and my club once again.”

The 21-year-old, who joined United from RB Leipzig in the summer, added: “I can’t wait to wear the national team jersey again; until then, I will be Slovenia’s biggest supporter. Go Slovenia.”

Scholes and Butt also used their podcast to criticise Carrick’s deployment of Matheus Cunha as a false nine against Fulham, arguing the Brazilian is less effective in that role.

Sesko is expected to have several weeks to recover before United’s next Premier League fixture against Tottenham on 10 October.