According to a report by The Sun on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Manchester United are reportedly worried that striker Benjamin Sesko could remain unavailable until the new year after suffering a setback during his recovery from injury, creating fresh concerns for Michael Carrick.

The Slovenian forward has been sidelined for five weeks with a separate problem from the shin injury that troubled him for approximately six months, further disrupting his progress at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old has undergone extensive medical examinations at United's Carrington training ground, with sources suggesting the club fear his absence could potentially last as long as four months.

However, people close to Sesko remain optimistic that his recovery will not stretch into February, although they are preparing for the possibility of an extended spell away from competitive football.

Sesko's prolonged absence could force United to pursue another striker during the January transfer window. The club did not recruit a backup centre-forward last summer because they struggled to find a buyer for Joshua Zirkzee.

Everton reportedly made a late enquiry about Zirkzee on transfer deadline day, but United rejected the approach while prioritising squad numbers. The Dutch forward has managed just one start in 27 appearances under Carrick.

Matheus Cunha initially led United's attack this season before Bryan Mbeumo took over the central role. Mbeumo has scored four goals, making him one of the club's joint-leading scorers.

Mbeumo also scored five goals while playing centrally under Carrick last season, potentially offering the manager an alternative solution while Sesko remains unavailable.

United previously invested heavily in their striking options, spending £108.5 million on Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund across successive summer transfer windows before signing Sesko in a deal reportedly worth £73.62 million last year.

Napoli were required to make Hojlund's move permanent for £38 million following his season-long loan, while United are expected to explore selling Zirkzee next year.

Carrick indicated that the club hoped to provide a clearer update on Sesko's condition later this week, potentially around Sunday's Premier League meeting with Bournemouth.

“We’re hoping really soon that we’ll have a clear picture,” Carrick said on Tuesday, explaining that medical assessments were continuing before a definitive timeline could be established.

The United manager added that he expected further information soon, saying, “There’s a bit of work going on at the moment, so we’ll see what comes out of that.”

Sesko scored 12 goals during his debut campaign at Old Trafford, helping United secure 14 Premier League points. His potential extended absence would represent another significant challenge for Carrick's attacking plans.