Sesko ruled out until January as Carrick faces Chelsea with depleted United attack

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is sidelined until at least January with a shin injury, manager Michael Carrick confirmed ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea — a fixture that could prove decisive for his own future at the club.

Sesko, 23, has not played since United’s Carabao Cup third-round exit at home to Brighton on 16 September. The Slovenian had already missed the entirety of pre-season with a comparable problem, and tests carried out before the first international break revealed the extent of the latest setback. The club’s medical team, working alongside external specialists, has determined that an extended period of rest is required rather than surgery.

“Unfortunately it looks like Ben is going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick said in his pre-match press conference. “We’re still not clear of exactly how long but it’s going to be for a longer period of time. We’ve got to go through a healing process for the injury to see how it would react, in what direction to go with that. Going through this again and for us to not have him available is obviously a blow. We’ll try and get him back as quickly as we can.”

Sesko has scored twice this season — coming off the bench to equalise in the 2-2 draw at Everton, then netting in the 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah four days later — but has otherwise struggled to establish himself since joining from RB Leipzig.

His absence deepens an already crowded treatment room at Carrington. Kobbie Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw are all currently sidelined, though Carrick offered a cautious positive on Mainoo’s progress. “Kobbie did a little bit of training yesterday so he’s back and around the group which is obviously a positive,” he said. Mainoo and the others are expected to return in November.

The news compounds a difficult week for Carrick, whose side were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth at Old Trafford last Saturday in a performance that left United toothless in attack. Members of the club’s hierarchy met at Carrington on Monday to discuss his position, but Carrick survived those initial crisis talks and will take charge at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.