Manchester United Block Benjamin Sesko from Slovenia Duty
Benjamin Sesko’s stop-start Manchester United career has hit another awkward twist, and this one stretches well beyond Old Trafford.
United have refused to release the 23-year-old striker for Slovenia’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, with the club insisting his lingering shin injury needs to be managed in Manchester rather than on international duty.
Club over country
Sesko ended last season in pain, his shin problem serious enough to rule him out of the run-in. He then missed the entirety of United’s pre-season, only re-emerging as a substitute in the opening Premier League game against Hull City.
Since then, his campaign has never really settled. Two goals in six appearances hint at promise, but the rhythm has not been there. He laboured in the EFL Cup tie against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, then disappeared from the squad completely for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham.
Yet he was still named in Slovenia’s squad. Head coach Bostjan Cesar had planned to lean on his leading forward for a demanding Nations League schedule: two matches against Scotland, plus games against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
That plan has been ripped up.
United have blocked Sesko from travelling to Slovenia, even to have the injury assessed by their medical staff. For a national team already frustrated by how rarely they have been able to call on him since his move to Manchester, the decision lands heavily.
“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” the club said in a statement.
“The striker had been called up by head coach Bostjan Cesar for two games against Scotland, plus meetings with North Macedonia and Switzerland, but he will now no longer join the squad.
“Sesko last appeared in our Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion, but was absent from the matchday squad for our most recent encounter with Fulham. Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”
The tension is obvious: a country wanting its main forward on the pitch, a club determined to protect an asset still trying to find his feet in England.
Carrick cautious, Spurs in sight
Michael Carrick is not taking chances. Asked about Sesko’s situation after the Fulham game, the United head coach made it clear the striker is nowhere near full fitness.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game, we’re assessing him,” Carrick told reporters.
“At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for today, so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point. We’ll have to see what that brings.”
Inside the club, there is cautious optimism. United hope Sesko will be available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10, a fixture that already feels like an early marker in their season. But there are no guarantees. Not with an injury that has already dragged across months.
Promise on pause
Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig last summer billed as one of Europe’s most intriguing young forwards. The numbers so far are respectable, not spectacular: 14 goals and one assist in 38 appearances for United in all competitions.
Strip it back to the league and the picture is similar. Twelve goals and one assist in 34 Premier League matches underline both his potential and his inconsistency.
There have been flashes. Runs in behind that stretch defences. Finishes that hint at a striker capable of leading the line at Old Trafford for years. Yet every time momentum starts to build, something interrupts it. This time, it is that nagging shin.
For Slovenia, the frustration is simple: their leading forward is again unavailable for a crucial block of international fixtures. For United, the calculation is colder but clear: protect the player now to unlock the talent they believe is still waiting to explode.
The question is how long they can keep striking that balance before patience – on both sides – begins to wear thin.
