Sesko's shin injury flares again as Manchester United rule him out of international duty

Benjamin Sesko will miss Slovenia’s entire three-week international break after Manchester United confirmed the striker has withdrawn from the national squad with a recurring shin injury, raising fresh doubts about his availability for the club’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham at Old Trafford on 10 October.

Sesko had already been absent from United’s matchday squad for the draw with Fulham at the weekend after reporting discomfort in the same shin that sidelined him for four months during the summer. He underwent further testing at Carrington on Monday morning, and the club subsequently confirmed he would not join Bostjan Cesar’s Slovenia squad for their four Nations League fixtures — two matches against Scotland and single ties with North Macedonia and Switzerland.

“Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan,” United said in a statement, adding that Sesko had appeared in the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton before being left out against Fulham.

The latest setback deepens a long-running tension between United and the Slovenian FA over the striker’s fitness management. National team head coach Cesar has previously complained about Sesko being withdrawn from international camps only to feature for his club shortly afterwards. The 21-year-old has not played for Slovenia since October 2025 and will now have missed his country’s last ten internationals.

With United’s medical staff yet to define the scope of the injury or a timeline for his return, the club’s attacking options will be tested during what is already a demanding run of fixtures after the international break.