Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has confirmed that Benjamin Sesko is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines due to an ongoing shin injury.

Sesko has played six times for Man United this season, scoring twice, but he has been absent from the team's last six matches in all competitions.

The Slovenia international missed the end of the 2025-26 campaign due to his shin problem, and he was also absent for Man United's entire pre-season.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the 23-year-old could be missing until January, as a period of rest is required to fully resolve the issue.

Carrick has now confirmed that the striker is facing "a period of time" on the sidelines.

Sesko facing lengthy period out due to shin injury

"Yeah, unfortunately Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time," Carrick told reporters during Thursday's press conference.

"We're still not clear of exactly how long, but it's going to be for a longer period of time. It was the process, as I said to you before, we had to go through the process, a bit of a healing process for the injury to see how it would react and what direction to go with that.

"Even now we're still working through it. But it's unfortunately, obviously first and foremost, for Ben, for the kind of period that he's had, and tried to get through it and going through this again.

"And for us to not have him available is obviously a blow, but we'll try and get him back as quick as we can."

Sesko injury latest: What happens now?

Surgical intervention is a possibility should the issue not resolve itself, but medical experts are believed to be confident that a period of rest will be enough to heal the injury.

Sesko could potentially be available for Man United's standout Champions League league stage fixture against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on January 20.

However, with no set timeframe at this stage of proceedings, it will be a waiting game for the Red Devils, as they bid to get their number one forward back on the field as soon as possible.

Sesko had a positive first season at Old Trafford following a switch from RB Leipzig, scoring 12 times in 32 appearances in all competitions.