Benjamin Sesko Set to Return for Manchester United

Benjamin Sesko is expected to be back leading Manchester United’s line before the real business of the season begins, with the club satisfied that his recovery from a shin injury is firmly on track.

The 23-year-old has sat out United’s opening pre-season friendlies against Wrexham and Rosenborg, but those absences were always part of a carefully managed plan rather than a late setback. Staff at Carrington are understood to be content with his progress, with no alarm over the timeline that was mapped out weeks ago.

Sesko first picked up the problem during last season and then aggravated the shin injury in the 3-2 win over Liverpool on May 3. United kept the exact nature of the issue deliberately vague at the time, but the decision to withdraw him from the final three matches of the campaign now looks like it will account for the entirety of his spell on the sidelines.

The Slovenia international has already stepped up his work. He returned to outdoor training last week and is edging closer to a matchday squad. There is a realistic chance he features in some capacity against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on Saturday, a key staging post in United’s preparations.

United expect him to be ready to start against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8, a fixture pencilled in internally as his full reintroduction. From Sweden, the squad will fly to Dublin for a six-day training camp, sharpening fitness and structure before the final stretch of pre-season.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Leeds United await at Croke Park on August 12, United’s penultimate friendly.
• Premier League opener away to Hull City on August 22.

By then, the plan is simple: Sesko fit, firing, and installed as the focal point of the attack.

His absence this month has opened a window for Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman has started both games against Wrexham and Rosenborg, an opportunity born more of circumstance than long-term design. United’s preference remains to move him on, but any sale is complicated.

The numbers tell the story. Zirkzee joined for £36.5 million in July 2024, and United would need around £21m just to avoid booking a loss on the forward. That price point makes an outright sale difficult, turning a loan back to Serie A into the more realistic route. Several Italian clubs have shown interest in him during his time at Old Trafford, and that market remains his likeliest escape hatch.

Behind the scenes, United are still working to bring in another striker to support Sesko. The club, though, has pushed back against suggestions that they made a move for Danny Welbeck before Chelsea stepped in. United have denied any contact with the Brighton forward, even as his name continues to circle around discussions about depth and experience in attack.

Welbeck, who scored 14 goals for Brighton last season, has never hidden the appeal of a potential return to Old Trafford. The idea of a homecoming has hovered in the background for years. Now, Chelsea have made their play for the 35-year-old, whose contract at Brighton runs down next year.

So United press on with their own plans: Sesko being readied to lead the line, a supporting striker still on the recruitment list, and Zirkzee standing at a crossroads. Pre-season is short. The decisions made over these next few weeks will shape how much weight Sesko has to carry when Hull City provide the first real test.