Benjamin Sesko has travelled to Dublin to join Manchester United's squad for a mini-training camp and a friendly against Leeds on Wednesday, after missing the fourth pre-season friendly last weekend. The £74million signing stayed behind at Carrington to recover from a shin injury while United played Paris Saint-Germain in Sweden.
Sesko was absent from United's pre-season games so far, and his slow start last season was partly blamed on his lack of pre-season involvement. He was not involved in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout against Grimsby Town due to cramp, which raised eyebrows, but club sources confirmed the issue.
Slow Start Concerns
Sesko made a slow start to his debut campaign, not scoring his first goal until September 27 against Brentford. He added another against Sunderland, but those were his only two goals in the first half of the season. His manager at the time, Ruben Amorim, said: "He finished the game with cramps, really at the limit. That's why we protected Ben from the penalties."
The 22-year-old showed his quality in a purple patch in 2026, but consistency was lacking. With no other senior centre forward in the squad, United need Sesko to be firing from the start.
Reasons for Optimism
Despite the concerns, there are reasons to believe Sesko can avoid another slow start. He is now settled in the Premier League, has built relationships with teammates, and will get some pre-season minutes, unlike last year. United's opening fixtures against Hull, Ipswich, and Everton are kind, and there is less pressure after his second-half improvement.
Sesko should get a chance to play in the final pre-season friendly against AC Milan, but he will lack match fitness, meaning another slow start could be on the cards. However, with his adaptation and the team's system, he might hit the ground running.
