Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is set to miss action until February, with reports emerging that the 23-year-old Slovenian's injury is far more serious than the club initially hoped.

Manager Michael Carrick is expected to confirm a more precise timeline for Sesko's return in the coming days, having initially played down concerns after the striker was absent from the 1-1 draw with Fulham last month. Carrick suggested at the time that Sesko had felt some discomfort after the Carabao Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion, saying, "He just felt a little bit of pain after the game: hopefully, it's not too bad, but we will have to see."

A worrying pattern of problems

Slovenian outlet Ekipa, as reported by Sport Witness, had already signalled that the diagnosis "doesn't look good," and a separate Slovenian source, Planet Nogomet, revealed last month that Sesko underwent an MRI scan in London to assess what was described as a "repetition of problems that have plagued" him in the past.

The striker returned to pre-season carrying a shin injury sustained in May, meaning Carrick began the campaign without his main centre-forward from the outset. Sesko also missed six games for club and country last winter with a knee problem. The current concern, according to reports, is that the absence of a fracture or structural break may point to a chronic condition requiring an extended recovery — potentially the most troubling scenario of all.

United's striking options under scrutiny

With Sesko sidelined, Carrick has turned to Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford, and Joshua Zirkzee to fill the void up front. Zirkzee, however, has struggled to make an impact this season — yet to start a Premier League match for Carrick, and registering fewer than 60 minutes of league football in total, supplemented by three cameo appearances in the League Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Reports indicate that United explored offloading the Dutch forward in the summer, and the January transfer window could see the club revisit that decision, particularly as they weigh potential replacements for the injured Sesko.

The timing could hardly be worse. Manchester United have managed just one Premier League win this season and face fellow strugglers Bournemouth at home this weekend, with Carrick under mounting pressure to turn results around.