Sesko injury 'doesn't look good' as Manchester United await MRI scan results

Benjamin Sesko is facing an uncertain spell on the sidelines after Manchester United confirmed the Slovenian striker missed their 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage, with Slovenian outlet Ekipa reporting the injury “doesn’t look good” ahead of an MRI scan in London.

Sesko, 23, was absent from manager Michael Carrick’s squad for the trip to Fulham, where Matheus Cunha led the attack in his place. Carrick initially struck a cautious but hopeful tone after the match, saying Sesko “just felt a little bit of pain” following the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and that the club were “assessing” the situation. The MRI results are expected to clarify the extent of the problem.

The concern, according to Ekipa, is rooted in Sesko’s injury history. “It doesn’t look good because of history and past patterns,” the outlet reported, adding that “persistent injuries cannot be simply repaired, patched, sewn or bandaged.” A second Slovenian source, Planet Nogomet, described the issue as a “repetition of problems that have plagued” the forward previously, suggesting the shin complaint may be chronic in nature.

Sesko missed a month of last season with a knee injury and then sustained a shin problem in May against Liverpool that curtailed his pre-season involvement. Despite those setbacks, his overall record at RB Leipzig was relatively clean — he missed just 12 matches during his time in Germany — and United valued him at around €75 million on Transfermarkt when they signed him.

The timing is awkward for Carrick, who is also monitoring Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford after both withdrew from international duty during the break. FourFourTwo understands neither player is facing a long-term absence. England have also lost Tino Livramento, Cole Palmer, and Declan Rice from their Nations League squad, with James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White called up as replacements.

Sesko has made six appearances for United this season, scoring twice, but his availability for the return of Premier League action — starting with the home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in October — now hinges on the MRI findings.