Benjamin Sesko ruled out until January as Manchester United face Chelsea without him

Sesko's shin problem returns

Benjamin Sesko is now expected to miss Manchester United until at least January, while the club works out the best treatment for a shin injury that has kept the Slovenia striker out since mid-September. The 23-year-old last played on 16 September, when he started the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, and he has missed six matches since. He is not expected to play again for club or country this year. United's medical team has consulted specialists and opted for rest over surgery, a route the club does not want for him. Michael Carrick said earlier in October that the problem sits in a "similar area" to the earlier injury but is not the same, and that the club was still working out how long it would last.

On Thursday, 29 October, Carrick was more direct about the timeline.

“Unfortunately, Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time.”

How the injury started

The problem dates back to last season. Sesko had been battling the shin issue towards the end of the campaign when Ibrahima Konate pushed him into the perimeter boards during the 3-2 win over Liverpool on 3 May, which made it worse. He played on for a while before missing the final three matches of the season, and the club chose rest over surgery, which meant he missed the entire pre-season. He returned in late August and started against Sabah and Brighton before the shin problem flared again. A week after his last appearance, United said in a statement:

“Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

Transfermarkt puts his time out at United at 154 days so far.

A thin attack and a winless run

Sesko is the only recognised senior centre-forward at the club, so his absence leaves United without a focal point. Carrick has rotated Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha through the middle, and Bruno Fernandes has also been used as a false nine. United did not bring in cover during the summer, spending on three midfield signings instead, and Joshua Zirkzee has been used only sparingly. The Red Devils are eight games without a win after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth, and they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 31 October. Sesko scored 12 goals across all competitions last season and has two goals in six appearances this season, two of them starts.

2025/26 season, all competitions12

2026/27 season so far2

2025/26 season, all competitions

12 goals

2026/27 season so far

2 goals

Data from the article text

Mainoo's return

There was some positive news on Wednesday, 28 October, when Kobbie Mainoo rejoined team-mates on the training ground after missing the last four games. The England midfielder has been sidelined since the draw with Tottenham earlier in October. On Thursday, 29 October, Carrick said Mainoo had done some training the day before and was back in and around the group. The manager called it a welcome development:

“So that's obviously a positive.”

Mainoo is pushing to be in contention for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

What comes next

Sesko's recovery plan will be set by the medical staff, and Carrick said United would try to get him back as quickly as they can. The immediate focus is the trip to Chelsea on Saturday, 31 October, the first of five fixtures that already look daunting. United have not won in eight matches, and Carrick is under intense pressure. Mainoo's return to training is the main positive news heading into that game, while Sesko's shin continues to be assessed.