According to a report by Metro on Wednesday October 28, 2026, Manchester United have suffered another setback after learning that Benjamin Sesko could remain sidelined for at least two more months while recovering from a shin injury.

The Slovenian striker, who joined United from RB Leipzig for £74 million in 2025, has yet to start a Premier League match this season. He has also been unavailable since the club’s Manchester derby defeat in September.

Sesko sustained the latest injury last month, separate from the problem that prematurely ended his 2025/26 campaign and prevented him from participating in United’s pre-season preparations.

According to The Athletic, United expect the 23-year-old to remain unavailable until at least January as he requires additional recovery time before rebuilding his match fitness.

Sesko experienced a difficult beginning to his career at Old Trafford following his expensive transfer from Germany. He was among several players who struggled to make an impact under former manager Ruben Amorim.

However, the forward showed considerable improvement after Michael Carrick took charge, scoring six goals across January and February. He subsequently finished the campaign as United’s joint-leading scorer with 11 goals.

Sesko found the net in consecutive matches in September but has missed United’s last six fixtures. His latest setback means he faces another lengthy spell away from competitive football.

Stephen Smith, founder and chief executive of Kitman Labs, a company specialising in sports performance and injury analytics, discussed Sesko’s situation in an interview with Metro.

Smith explained that recurring injuries can be difficult to manage because initial treatment methods do not always produce the desired results. He suggested United’s medical team would be reviewing previous approaches and considering alternative solutions.

He also emphasised that caution would be essential following the recurrence of the problem, with the club likely to avoid rushing the striker back into action.

According to Smith, continued conservative treatment remains one possible approach, although specialists could also consider treatments designed to encourage bone or soft-tissue healing.

If further examinations reveal a structural problem, such as a stress fracture that is failing to heal, more invasive procedures could eventually be discussed. MRI or CT scans may help doctors identify damage that conventional X-rays cannot fully reveal.

Smith noted that surgical intervention would generally be considered a last resort after less invasive treatments had been given sufficient time to work.

The injury crisis adds to United’s difficulties ahead of their upcoming Premier League meeting with Chelsea. The club sit 16th in the table, while Michael Carrick is expected to remain in charge for Saturday’s encounter at Stamford Bridge despite speculation surrounding his future.