Sesko ruled out for extended spell as Manchester United head to Chelsea without a striker

Benjamin Sesko will miss Manchester United’s Premier League visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after manager Michael Carrick confirmed the Slovenia international faces another lengthy absence with a shin injury — the same problem that kept him out for the final three games of last season and all of pre-season.

Carrick told reporters at his pre-match press conference that the club is still working through the full timeline of the injury but made clear it would be “a longer period of time.” Reports emerging on Wednesday suggested Sesko could be sidelined for up to two months following tests at United’s Carrington training base.

Sesko last featured for United in the Carabao Cup against Brighton on 16 September, feeling pain in his shin shortly after the game. The club initially opted for a conservative, rest-based approach — mirroring the decision taken last season — but the injury has not responded as hoped.

“Unfortunately Ben looks like he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick said. “We’re still not clear of exactly how long, but it’s going to be for a longer period of time. Even now we’re still working through it. But it’s unfortunately, obviously first and foremost, for Ben, for the kind of period that he’s had, and tried to get through it and going through this again. And for us to not have him available is obviously a blow, but we’ll try and get him back as quick as we can.”

The news leaves United facing the prospect of having no recognised striker available until at least January, a significant concern heading into a demanding run of fixtures.

Carrick did receive some positive injury news ahead of the Chelsea game. Kobbie Mainoo has returned to training and is back in contention for the squad, while Marcus Rashford is stepping up his recovery from a hip injury and could also be available. Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu, however, will not be fit in time for the trip to west London.

“Kobbie’s done a little bit of training yesterday, so he’s back in and around the group, so that’s obviously a positive,” Carrick said.