Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is not expected to return to action until at least January, after sustaining a shin injury that has left manager Michael Carrick without his only specialist centre-forward.

The 23-year-old Slovenian has been absent since being substituted in the 66th minute of United's Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on 16 September. Sources familiar with the situation have clarified that the problem is an impact injury rather than shin splints — a distinction that required multiple rounds of testing to establish.

A recurring concern

This is not the first time Sesko has battled shin-related problems. The issue cost him the entirety of pre-season and resurfaced last term, flaring up against Liverpool in May and forcing him to miss United's final three Premier League matches of the campaign.

After scoring against Sabah FK in the Champions League earlier this season, Sesko publicly expressed relief at feeling healthy — a sense of optimism that has since evaporated.

What United are losing

Sesko joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig in August 2025 in a deal worth £73.7 million. In all competitions since his arrival, he has made 38 appearances, contributing 14 goals and one assist. Despite missing eight matches last season, he still finished as United's joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 11 goals, level with Bryan Mbeumo.

This term he has scored twice — against Everton in the Premier League and Sabah FK in the Champions League — before the shin injury intervened.

His enforced absence means United will be without a natural number nine for high-profile Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as at least three further Champions League matches.

A club in freefall

Sesko's injury compounds an already alarming spell for Manchester United, who sit 16th in the Premier League table. Their sole league victory came against Ipswich on 30 August, and they have not won in any competition since 10 September.

Last Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League prompted captain Bruno Fernandes to publicly criticise Carrick's tactics — a remarkable moment of discord. Fernandes was then left out of the starting XI entirely for Sunday's 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth, though the pair are reported to have held talks to clear the air on Tuesday.

Carrick had been widely tipped for the sack after the Bournemouth result, but he will remain in the dugout when United face Chelsea on Saturday at 12:30 GMT.

Whether the club opts to address their lack of a recognised striker in the January transfer window remains an open question — though the pressure to act grows with every passing week.