Manchester United have suffered another major blow, with it reported that a crucial star has been ruled out until at least January after encountering another setback

Manchester United have suffered another major blow with a crucial star ruled out until at least January after enduring another setback.

Michael Carrick's fight to save his job and turn United's form around will have to continue without Benjamin Sesko, with the striker's ongoing shin injury reportedly requiring complete rest.

According to The Athletic, United's medical team have been investigating the best treatment for Sesko's issue, which he picked up at the end of last season. The 23-year-old briefly returned to first-team action at the start of the season having missed the entirety of pre-season, but he suffered a recurrence of the injury and has been sidelined since the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton in September.

And the Slovenian will not return until at least the New Year with him needing more time to rest and recover to fully heal the issue. It will then take Sesko even longer to get back up to match sharpness.

Sesko picked up the problem at the back end of last season but continued to play through the pain to help United qualify for the Champions League, but a shove by Ibrahima Konate off the Old Trafford pitch in United's 3-2 win in May aggravated the problem and he missed the remaining three matches of the campaign.

United opted to rest the striker rather than put him through surgery. Despite sitting out pre-season, Sesko returned to play just six games this season before reinjuring his shin.

Sesko scored 12 goals last season, including 11 in his debut Premier League campaign after joining from RB Leipzig in a £74million deal.

The 6ft 5 Slovenian scored in the 2-2 draw at Everton and in the 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League in September.

In his absence, Carrick has deployed Bryan Mbeumo predominantly as the No.9 after the club failed to sign a striker in the summer despite attempts to sell Joshua Zirkzee.