Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is expected to remain out of action until at least January after suffering a shin injury, leaving manager Michael Carrick with limited attacking options during a critical stretch of the campaign.
According to BBC Sport on Wednesday, the 23-year-old Slovenia international has not played for United since their Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton on September 16, when he was taken off in the 66th minute.
The forward has undergone several medical examinations to establish the nature of the injury. Sources indicate that the problem stems from an impact injury rather than shin splints.
Sesko has struggled with similar issues before, missing the club’s entire pre-season because of a related complaint. The injury also resurfaced during a match against Liverpool in May last season, ruling him out of United’s final three Premier League fixtures.
Since arriving from RB Leipzig in August 2025 for £73.7m, Sesko has recorded 14 goals and one assist in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Despite missing eight matches, he ended last season as United’s joint-leading Premier League scorer, with 11 goals alongside Bryan Mbeumo.
His latest setback is a significant concern for Carrick, as Sesko is considered the club’s only natural centre-forward.
The striker had scored twice this season, netting against Everton in the Premier League and Sabah FK in the Champions League. After the latter appearance, he expressed relief at having recovered from injury, but the recurrence has interrupted his progress.
Sesko is now expected to miss several key matches, including Premier League encounters with Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as at least three Champions League fixtures.
His prolonged absence could also prompt United to reassess their recruitment plans ahead of the January transfer window, particularly as the team continues to struggle for results and lacks an established alternative in the centre-forward position.
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United’s recent form has heightened concerns, with the club recording their only league victory against Ipswich on August 30. They have also failed to win in any competition since September 10.
The pressure on Carrick has intensified following last Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, after which captain Bruno Fernandes reportedly criticised the manager’s tactics.
Fernandes was left on the bench throughout Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. However, reports indicate that the midfielder and Carrick met on Tuesday in a bid to settle their differences.
Carrick had been widely tipped to lose his position after the Bournemouth loss, but he is expected to remain in charge for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea, which kicks off at 12:30 GMT.
With Sesko facing an extended absence and results continuing to disappoint, United face mounting challenges as they seek to stabilise their season and determine whether reinforcements will be needed when the transfer window opens in January.