Manchester United have been handed a massive blow as Benjamin Sesko has been ruled out for the rest of 2026 due to a shin injury.
Sesko hasn't appeared for United since mid-September in a 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup. The Slovenian striker missed pre-season due to the recurring injury but the club had hoped he'd be back to full fitness for the campaign.
That isn't the case as Sesko has been recovering from a shin problem since the defeat against Brighton. He's now set to be given a period of rest to ensure he's fully healed by the turn of the year.
Benjamin Sesko out for the rest of the year
Sesko has sat out a tumultuous period for United under Michael Carrick. This includes heavy defeats to Como (4-1) and Bournemouth (3-0).
The Athletic have confirmed that the forward is going to be absent until the New Year which leaves under pressure Carrick short of options up top. He has been using Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha as false 9's in Sesko's absence but also turned to Joshua Zirkzee off the bench.
United have decided to continue with Carrick despite the club enduring their worst start to a Premier League campaign. He will take his troops to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday and will be without Sesko.
The 23-year-old enjoyed an upturn in form when Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January. He ended last season with 11 goals in 30 league games, finishing the season strongly until his shin injury worsened in a 3-2 win over Liverpool.
Bryan Mbeumo should start against Chelsea
Carrick has already been dealing with Sesko's absence but not very well given his side's woeful run of form. They sit 16th in the league with just one win and three defeats in eight games.
Mbeumo has been one positive for United this season, faring well despite his team's poor performance as a collective. The Cameroonian has found the back of the net four times in eight league games.
Given this output, it can be expected to see the former Brentford attacker line up as the focal point of Carrick's attack against Chelsea. That game is a must-win for his head coach whom INEOS had been expected to sack on Monday until deciding to give him the chance to turn the season around.
