Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko will be sidelined “for a few weeks” after suffering a knee injury ahead of the international break, manager Ruben Amorim confirmed on Friday.
Sesko, who joined United from RB Leipzig for £74 million ($97 million) in August, was hurt during the 2-2 Premier League draw against Tottenham on November 8. The 22-year-old subsequently missed Slovenia’s World Cup qualifying matches.
Amorim admitted he was initially “more concerned” given the nature of the injury but said scans suggest the issue is not serious.
“He is going to stay out for a few weeks, I don’t know how long, but it is not that serious,” Amorim told reporters before Monday’s home match against Everton. “We have to be careful with him… he is doing his recovery and feeling better. So in a few weeks I expect to have Ben back.”
The United manager said Sesko’s return is likely to coincide with the period when Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in Morocco on December 21. Discussions are ongoing about when clubs must release players.
“We are doing our job to try to maintain the players a little bit longer, but it’s not just in our hands,” Amorim said. “We need to respect that, but we will try to protect the club, the player and the national team.”
Reflecting on the upcoming anniversary of his first match in charge, against Ipswich on November 24 last year, Amorim said he quickly realised the scale of the challenge at Old Trafford.
“It’s the best league in the world… maybe the best club in the world,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s a big job and it’s going to require a lot of work.”
Amorim believes United are making progress after a difficult 2024/25 season in which they finished 15th. “We suffered a lot last year… but I expect a team with more control, more dominance, playing better football and, most importantly, more competitive in every way.”
United will also be without Harry Maguire for the Everton match after he picked up an injury against Spurs. However, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could return, while defender Lisandro Martínez is edging closer to full fitness after taking part in Argentina’s training camp over the international break.
United sit seventh in the Premier League, unbeaten in five matches but held to successive draws by Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
Source: AFP
Written By Rodney Mbua
