Sesko misses Manchester United's clash with Fulham as shin problem flares again

Benjamin Sesko has been ruled out of Manchester United’s Premier League fixture against Fulham on Sunday after the recurring shin problem that disrupted his entire pre-season flared up again following Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton.

The 23-year-old striker started against Brighton but felt pain after the game, and United are currently assessing the issue. It is understood the discomfort is located in the same shin that kept Sesko sidelined throughout pre-season and cost him the final weeks of last season after he aggravated it against Liverpool in May.

Sesko had appeared confident the problem was behind him when he spoke to reporters following United’s Champions League win against Sabah. “I got a kick last season, but it was also a little bit of an overload from myself,” he said, referencing a challenge from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté. “We just needed a little bit longer, longer than usual, because if you start too early, it might appear again. And I think waiting a little bit longer was a great decision, and now it’s healed, so it’s perfect.”

With Sesko unavailable, manager Michael Carrick has opted for a striker-less front three of Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo against Fulham.

The setback will concern United given how carefully the club managed Sesko’s return to fitness over the summer. Having not played a single minute in pre-season, his appearance against Brighton had represented only his second competitive outing of the campaign. Whether the latest flare-up is a minor precautionary absence or a more significant concern remains to be seen as the club awaits further assessment.