Manchester United play down Sesko injury after striker withdraws from Slovenia squad

Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko will be unavailable for Slovenia’s decisive World Cup qualifiers, though initial assessments suggest his injury is not as serious as first feared following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

The 22-year-old was forced off after just half an hour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, appearing to jar his knee in a challenge with Micky van de Ven.

Sesko, a £73.7 million signing, was later seen leaving the ground without the aid of crutches, though he was clearly uncomfortable and walking gingerly.

Head coach Ruben Amorim admitted after the game that the extent of the problem remained uncertain, warning that with a knee injury “you never know.” He added that the player would undergo tests to determine whether the setback might impact the club’s January transfer plans.

Sesko’s early withdrawal initially raised fears of a lengthy spell on the sidelines, especially with United already bracing for potential absences during the Africa Cup of Nations, when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are all expected to depart for international duty.

However, sources inside the club have downplayed those concerns. While Sesko will undergo further scans at Carrington to establish the full diagnosis, officials believe the injury is not severe and are confident he will not be out for an extended period.

Even so, the striker will not feature for Slovenia in their upcoming qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden. The matches are crucial for their hopes of reaching the World Cup play-offs, but Sesko’s absence will be a significant blow for manager Matjaz Kek’s side, given his importance to their attack.