Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko picked up a knee injury against Tottenham before the November international break.
Benjamin Sesko should return in the next week or so.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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Benjamin Sesko was absent from recent training imagery released by Manchester United, but the striker should be close to a return, provided his recovery from a knee injury has gone to plan. Last month, Sesko was introduced from the bench in the 58th minute against Tottenham, but he lasted just half-an-hour and was forced off after receiving treatment for a knee injury.
Sources indicated the injury was not thought to be a major issue, which meant a few weeks was the expectation for his layoff. Amorim provided an update on Sesko's injury on November 21, saying: "He is going to stay a few weeks out. I don’t know how long, but it’s not that serious. We have to be careful with him."
Amorim was asked whether Sesko would return before United lose players to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). "I think it’s going to be more or less at the same time," he said. "I don’t want to say for sure, but when they are going to camp [for the tournament], I expect to have Ben back."
When Amorim made that comment, the presumption was that United would lose players to AFCON after facing Wolves, but there is the possibility that they will keep Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui to face Bournemouth before joining their nations at the tournament.
Sesko should be nearing a return. He did not appear to be involved with the main group in recent training images, but the original timeline for his recovery suggests he'll be back in the next week or so. It feels unlikely that Sesko will be spotted making his way off the team bus at Molineux. If he isn't involved on Monday, he should still have a chance of being involved against Bournemouth.
There was a conversation about Sesko needing to do more before he picked up his knee injury. Gary Neville was critical of his performance against Nottingham Forest and Amorim admitted he was "struggling a little bit".
Sesko missed a decent chance against Spurs.(Image: BBC Match of the Day)
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Discussing the impact of former United stars criticising players in the media, Amorim responded: "Of course, nobody likes to hear, but he struggled a little bit, and that is a fact.
"So let's embrace that. It’s not personal, it’s not nothing. That is what I try to explain to the players. That is not personal. It's an opinion that is going to change in three weeks.
"Everything that is true today, in three weeks, could be a lie. So of course, it's hard to hear, but my advice to Ben is you are going to get used. And then it's going to be natural. We are going to help him and we are going to protect Ben because he works really hard and we want to succeed. So he's going to succeed."
Sesko's display against Tottenham was picked apart. He had two chances to find the back of the net and showed his inexperience, but his return to fitness will be a much-needed boost.
Joshua Zirkzee has described himself as "9.5 false striker", and so Sesko is the only centre-forward in the dressing room. Zirkzee scored a brilliant goal against Crystal Palace, but there is a large bank of evidence that confirms he is not a natural goalscorer.
Sesko has not looked like a natural goalscorer since his arrival from RB Leipzig, but he at least moves and thinks like a striker, which is what United need from their starter leading the attack. United struggled to pose a goal threat in home games against Everton and West Ham. They sent several crosses into the box in search of a goal against Everton, but they were unable to find a breakthrough.
Sesko might have done better with those crosses and Amorim will be desperate for him to be available again, especially with Mbeumo and Amad set to report for international duty at AFCON.
The likelihood is that United will have to make do without Sesko against Wolves, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Amorim revert to the striker-less attack he picked in the opening three league games of the season.
Sesko was dropped to the bench before he picked up a knee injury. He will be needed to start the majority of games during the Christmas schedule if fit and fans are hoping he will return from the sidelines with a bang.