Manchester United’s Injury Woes Deepen with Benjamin Sesko Withdrawal

Manchester United’s bruising week has taken another hit, with Benjamin Sesko withdrawing from Slovenia’s squad as the club’s injury list stretches deeper into the international break.

The 23-year-old striker missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham after suffering a shin problem in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton last week. United had hoped the issue would settle quickly. It hasn’t.

Sesko has now been ruled out of Slovenia’s upcoming Nations League double-header against Scotland, as well as further fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” the club said in a statement. “Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

For United, it was just the latest setback on a day that turned into a roll call of withdrawals.

United’s international exodus grows

Sesko became the fourth United player to pull out of international duty on Monday, underlining the physical toll of the early season.

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow has also left the Wales camp, despite being fit enough to take a place on the bench at Craven Cottage at the weekend. His departure capped a grim spell for Craig Bellamy’s side, who also lost Leeds winger Harry Wilson to a quad injury and Wrexham forward Nathan Broadhead to a separate problem.

The list doesn’t stop there.

Sesko and Darlow now join Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo on United’s casualty sheet for this international window. Both England internationals were among five players to withdraw from Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Rashford picked up what Michael Carrick described as an “issue” at Fulham, the forward substituted after appearing to struggle with his hip – an area that troubled him throughout the summer. The concern is familiar, and unwelcome.

Mainoo, who travelled to this summer’s World Cup but did not feature under Tuchel, also failed to finish the match at Craven Cottage, coming off in the closing stages of the draw.

Four withdrawals. One break. And a United squad that will spend the next three weeks hoping this is the end of the damage, not the start of a deeper problem.