Sesko faces another shin setback as Man United weigh withdrawing striker from Slovenia squad

Benjamin Sesko is facing another spell on the sidelines after reporting renewed pain in his shin, with Manchester United medics assessing the £73m striker on Monday morning ahead of a likely withdrawal from Slovenia’s Nations League squad.

Sesko missed United’s draw at Fulham on Sunday, having first complained of discomfort following the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton. Manager Michael Carrick said after the Fulham game that the club was still evaluating the 23-year-old, offering no timeframe on his availability.

“We’re not sure with Ben yet,” Carrick said. “He felt a bit of pain after the game, we’re assessing him. At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for today, so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point. We’ll have to see what that brings.”

Sesko had already missed the international fixtures in March while the problem was being managed, and then aggravated the injury against Liverpool at Old Trafford to rule himself out for the remainder of the club season. He was absent throughout pre-season before returning at the start of the Premier League campaign, only to now report discomfort in the same shin after less than a full month back in action.

Should he withdraw from Bostjan Cesar’s squad, Sesko will have missed Slovenia’s last 10 fixtures — he has not played for his country since October 2025. Slovenia are scheduled to face North Macedonia, Switzerland, and a double-header against Scotland during the break.

The situation threatens to reopen a fractious relationship between United and the Slovenian FA. Cesar has previously criticised the club for withdrawing Sesko from international camps only for the striker to feature for United shortly afterwards. Last week, however, the Slovenia head coach adopted a more conciliatory tone, expressing confidence that Sesko would report for duty.

“I’m very happy that he’s back in a competitive rhythm and the injury is finally repaired,” Cesar said. “I have spoken to him and I believe Benjamin Sesko will come to the camp. It was quite a serious injury, and I think they handled it altogether in the right way to get him into the training process so slowly.”

Sesko is not the only United player whose international availability is in doubt. Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford are also expected to withdraw from England’s Nations League squad as the club assesses their fitness. Carrick did not cite an injury when asked about substituting Mainoo 10 minutes from time against Fulham, but the 21-year-old is now anticipated to pull out of the England camp.