Benjamin Sesko will not feature for Manchester United as they open their pre-season campaign against Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland, this afternoon. The striker is sidelined due to a shin problem that flared up against Liverpool in early May, causing him to miss the last three games of last season.
Carrick's First Match as Permanent Manager
The friendly marks the first match under Michael Carrick as full-time manager. Carrick took over permanently after impressing in his second caretaker spell, following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January. He led United to a third-place finish in the Premier League and secured Champions League football for the first time since 2023.
Other Absentees and New Signings
Alongside Sesko, goalkeeper Karl Darlow and midfielder Youri Tielemans have also not travelled to Helsinki. Darlow is recovering from a minor operation on an undisclosed injury, while Tielemans was given extra time off after representing Belgium at the World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals. New signings Andrey Santos, Darlow, and Tielemans have been brought in to strengthen the squad's depth, particularly in midfield.
According to United officials, both Sesko and Darlow are expected to be fully fit for the start of the new campaign. Carrick aims to build on last season's third-place finish while managing Champions League commitments.
