Cynthia Ezegwu
Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko will be sidelined for “a few weeks” after sustaining a knee injury before the international break, manager Ruben Amorim confirmed on Friday.
Sesko, who joined United from RB Leipzig for £74 million in August, was injured during the 2-2 Premier League draw against Tottenham on November 8. The 22-year-old subsequently missed Slovenia’s World Cup qualifiers.
Amorim admitted he was initially “more concerned” because the injury affected the striker’s knee, but he expressed confidence that Sesko had avoided a long-term setback.
“He is going to stay out for a few weeks, I don’t know how long, but it is not that serious,” the United manager said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s home clash with Everton. “We have to be careful with him. He is doing his recovery and is feeling better. So in a few weeks, I expect to have Ben (Sesko).”
The Portuguese coach noted that Sesko could return around the time several United players—Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo and Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui—depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco on December 21. Amorim said discussions were ongoing over their release dates.
“We are doing our job to try to maintain the players a little bit longer, but it’s not just in our hands,” he said. “We need to respect that, but we will do everything to protect the club, the player and the national team.”
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With the anniversary of his first match as United manager approaching, Amorim reflected on his arrival at Old Trafford on November 24 last year.
“Right away, I knew we would struggle in some things,” he said. “It’s the best league in the world. Maybe the best club in the world. But it’s a big job and it’s going to require a lot of work.”
United endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League, but Amorim insisted the team was now showing signs of progress.
“We suffered a lot last year, so we have to take that into account and play every game like it’s the last one,” he said. “Of course, I expect a team with more control, more dominance and better football — and the most important thing, to be competitive in every way.”
Meanwhile, United will be without defender Harry Maguire for the Everton match after he also picked up an injury in the draw against Spurs. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could return against David Moyes’s side, while Lisandro Martinez is edging closer to fitness after linking up with Argentina during the international break.
United sit seventh in the Premier League after a five-match unbeaten run, though they drew their last two games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.