Manchester United Injury List Grows as Benjamin Sesko Withdraws

Manchester United’s injury list grew longer on Monday as Benjamin Sesko became the latest player to withdraw from international duty, deepening the club’s concerns heading into a crucial phase of the season.

The 23-year-old striker, who missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham, has pulled out of Slovenia’s squad after failing to shake off a shin problem picked up in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton last week. What initially looked like a knock has now ruled him out of a busy international schedule.

Sesko will sit out Slovenia’s two Nations League clashes with Scotland, as well as fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland during the upcoming three-week international break.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” the club said in a statement.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.”

The timing is bleak for United. Sesko became the fourth player from the club to pull out of international duty on Monday alone, as a drip of bad news turned into a steady flow.

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 was part of a bruising day for Craig Bellamy’s side, who also lost Leeds winger Harry Wilson to a quad injury and Wrexham forward Nathan Broadhead to a separate issue.

For United, the picture is just as worrying.

Sesko and Darlow now join Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo on an early casualty list for this international window. Both Rashford and Mainoo were among five players to withdraw from the England squad, turning what should have been a routine call-up period into a headache for club and country.

Michael Carrick confirmed that Rashford picked up what he called an “issue” at Craven Cottage. The forward was substituted after appearing to struggle with his hip, a problem that had already troubled him over the summer and now refuses to go away.

Mainoo’s evening at Fulham also ended early. The midfielder, who travelled to this summer’s World Cup but did not feature under Thomas Tuchel, was withdrawn in the closing stages of the draw, adding another layer of concern for United’s medical staff.

Tests will now determine how long Sesko and his team-mates are sidelined. For a squad already walking a tightrope between form and fatigue, the international break is starting to look less like a pause and more like a looming test of depth and resilience.