Sesko has spoken publicly for the first time since his shin injury returned, telling supporters on Instagram that his focus is on getting back on the pitch as quickly as possible.
The 23-year-old shared the message on Monday, the day after he sat out Manchester United’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Fulham. It is the same shin issue that ended his previous season prematurely and wiped out his entire pre-season.
“I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team’s upcoming matches. I have always played for Slovenia, and always will, with heart and pride. Right now, the most important thing is to focus fully on my recovery,” Sesko wrote on Instagram.
“I am already working on getting back on the pitch as soon as possible to help both the national team and my club once again.”
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Carrick offers no timeline
Head coach Michael Carrick has stopped short of putting a return date on the injury, which flared up in the days after United’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton earlier this month.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet. He felt a bit of pain after the game [against Brighton] so we’re assessing him,” Carrick said before the Fulham fixture.
“At the moment, he definitely wasn’t ready for [Fulham], so I haven’t really got any more news to give you at this point.”
Slovenia named their squad without him for Nations League fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Switzerland, and the international break now gives United’s medical staff extra time to work on him before their next Premier League match.
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A £73.62m signing still searching for a run
Sesko joined United from RB Leipzig on 9 August 2025 on a five-year contract worth up to £73.62m, made up of an initial £66.26m and a further £7.36m in performance-related add-ons.
United beat off Newcastle, who tabled two formal bids, to sign the Slovenian. Director of football Jason Wilcox called him “one of the most exceptional young talents in world football” on the day of the signing.
Fitness has been the caveat ever since. The current shin problem previously kept Sesko out of United’s final three matches of the 2025-26 season and forced him to miss the whole of pre-season before the recurrence this month.
United host Tottenham at Old Trafford on 10 October, their first Premier League fixture after the international break.
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