Carrick left in dark over Sesko timeline after fresh injury setback

Uncertainty surrounds the recovery timeline for Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko, according to manager Michael Carrick. The 23-year-old striker sustained a second leg issue while on international duty with Slovenia, forcing him to withdraw from national team commitments.

Sesko had already missed the recent 1-1 draw against Fulham prior to the international break. Carrick noted that this new problem is similar to the injury that kept the player sidelined for three months during the summer period.

Injury details and recovery status

Speaking to ESPN, Carrick clarified the nature of the setback. "It's not quite the same exact problem, it's a similar area, but it's not quite the same thing again," he stated. The manager indicated that medical staff are currently assessing the duration of the recovery.

"We're kind of working on it a little to find out how long the problem will take, and we hope it will be soon of course, but at this moment it is still not entirely clear," Carrick added. With Sesko ruled out for Saturday’s home fixture against Tottenham at Old Trafford, his absence leaves a gap in the attacking lineup.

Additional squad absences and returns

The injury list extends beyond Sesko. Patrick Dorgu is also unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury while representing Denmark. Noussair Mazraoui remains doubtful for the upcoming clash, having taken a knock during his international appearance.

"Patrick has come out and it looks as though he will probably be out for several weeks," Carrick explained regarding Dorgu. He continued, "Noussair came out and took a knock, and he's not quite ready yet, so we'll have to see about his condition."

Conversely, Carlos Baleba may make his first appearance since transferring from Brighton in the summer. Carrick reported that Baleba has improved significantly and completed extensive training sessions.

Training updates and group conditions

Other players participated in recent training drills, including Amad, Marcus Rashford, and Kobbie Mainoo. This mixed availability presents challenges for the coaching staff as they prepare for the Tottenham visit.

"So, the situation of the group is somewhat mixed," the United boss concluded, highlighting the varied fitness levels within the squad.