Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko will be unavailable for Slovenia’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, though club staff remain confident the setback is not a serious one.
Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko will be unavailable for Slovenia’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, though club staff remain confident the setback is not a serious one.
The striker was forced off after just half an hour during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, having hurt his knee in a challenge involving defender Micky van de Ven.
Valued at £73.7 million, Sesko was later seen leaving the stadium unaided but with a visible limp. Head coach Ruben Amorim admitted that knee issues can be unpredictable, saying further evaluation would determine whether the injury might affect the club’s plans for the January transfer window.
The situation initially sparked concern about a lengthy spell on the sidelines, especially given that several United players — including Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui — are due to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
Although the precise diagnosis and recovery time will only be confirmed after medical checks at Carrington, United sources have played down fears that Sesko could face a long absence.
The 22-year-old’s withdrawal from Slovenia’s squad means he will not feature in their decisive fixtures against Kosovo and Sweden. Slovenia must win both games to keep their hopes of reaching the World Cup play-offs alive.
Inside the club, there is a sense of cautious optimism that the striker’s issue is relatively minor and that his return could come sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, defender Lisandro Martinez has been given permission to join Argentina at their European training base ahead of a friendly against Angola. The 27-year-old will not play in the fixture but will continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of United’s staff.
Martinez has resumed full training after undergoing major knee surgery in February. Amorim, however, has chosen not to include him in matchday squads yet, preferring to build his fitness gradually following multiple injury setbacks since his move from Ajax in 2022.
The club believes that joining up with his national teammates — without long-distance travel — will be a positive step in his recovery. A member of United’s performance team is accompanying him to monitor his progress during the international break.
