Manchester United fear striker Benjamin Sesko could be sidelined for up to four months with a troublesome shin problem, according to The Sun. The 23-year-old, who cost £73.7million, has been plagued by the issue for the past six months, with a new fitness concern hampering his availability over the last five weeks.
Michael Carrick's medical staff have been monitoring Sesko's condition through routine assessments, but there are mounting concerns that he could be out until February. That would rule him out of a substantial number of fixtures, potentially forcing United to address his absence during the January transfer window.
Carrick promises clearer assessment
A more precise timescale for Sesko's comeback is expected to be revealed by Carrick in the coming days, after the United manager stated he would provide a clearer assessment at one of his forthcoming press briefings.
When questioned about Sesko's injury, Carrick said: "We're hoping really soon that we'll have a clear picture. I'm not trying to delay it. Hopefully next time we speak. Maybe not tomorrow, but by the end of the week, we'll have something a little bit clearer. There's a bit of work going on at the moment, so we'll see what comes out of that."
United's striking options limited
United did not pursue a move for a back-up striker in the summer and have had to rely on Joshua Zirkzee, whom they tried and failed to sell. They may need to rely on the Dutchman more, with Sesko potentially absent for a significant period.
Last season, Sesko scored 12 goals following his big-money transfer from RB Leipzig. He has also been competing with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for the central role in United's attack. This season, he has registered two goals across six outings in all competitions, including a powerful header during the 2-2 away draw with Everton and a goal in the 4-0 victory against Sabah.
Transfer window considerations
Beyond Sesko, United have limited options for natural centre forwards. Rasmus Hojlund departed for Napoli this summer after the Italian club's Champions League qualification activated a mandatory purchase clause of £38m, following his loan spell last season.
Zirkzee has similarly never been regarded as a conventional striker, infamously describing himself as a "number 9.5" owing to his qualities being suited to both the No. 10 role and the No.9. Last week, United were surprisingly linked to former Tottenham Hotspur forward Troy Parrott, who has been enjoying an impressive spell with Real Betis.
