Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko may be ruled out until at least January with a shin injury.
The 23-year-old has not featured for the club since they were defeated by Brighton in the Carabao Cup on September 16, when he was substituted in the 66th minute.
The Slovenia international has had to undergo a number of tests to try and get to the bottom of the problem, with boss Michael Carrick often asking when he will be fit to return.
BBC Sources say it’s not shin splints but an impact injury, which is not quite the same as the original problem.
The complaint kept Sesko out of pre-season training entirely and it also bothered him last season, flaring up in May against Liverpool and ruling him out of the final three Premier League games.
Since joining United from RB Leipzig for £73.7m in August 2025, Sesko has made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and providing one assist.
Despite missing eight matches he was their joint-top scorer in the Premier League last season alongside Bryan Mbeumo (11).
Sesko has scored twice this season, once against Everton in the Premier League and once against Sabah FK in the Champions League. After that game he spoke of his relief at being injury free. Sadly, that didn’t last long.
Sesko will now miss key Premier League fixtures, including clashes with Liverpool and Arsenal, and at least three games in the Champions League.
It remains to be seen whether the problem will force United into a move in the January transfer window, with a relative lack of an orthodox forward cited as a reason for their chronic recent form.
United are currently stuck in 16th place, with their only league win coming against Ipswich on 30 August, and they haven’t won a game in any competition since September 10.
Captain Bruno Fernandes has criticized manager Carrick’s tactics after Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League loss at Como.
The Portugal international was an unused substitute as United suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday, but the pair have reportedly held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday.
Carrick was widely expected to be sacked after the defeat at Bournemouth but will be in charge at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (12:30 GMT) when they face Chelsea.
