Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Michael Carrick is not doing himself any favours by not holding Ineos to account after he was asked for an update on injured Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko.
The 45-year-old Manchester United manager was without Benjamin Sesko for the Red Devils’ 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Ahead of the Man Utd and Fulham match at the weekend, Michael Carrick revealed that the 23-year-old striker had felt a “little bit of pain” after the Brighton defeat.
Sesko started United’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the third round of the Carabao Cup and saw out 66 minutes at Old Trafford before he was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.
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Michael Carrick should be more annoyed that Ineos did not sign another striker for Man Utd after Benjamin Sesko’s setback
Matheus Cunha has now been leading the frontline alongside Benjamin Sesko during the opening weeks of Manchester United’s 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford. United legend Carrick has been forced to be pragmatic with his attacking set-up after Sesko missed the Red Devils’ pre-season due to injury.
Bryan Mbeumo led the frontline for the Red Devils during the summer tour, while Sesko has been eased back into United first-team action as the season has progressed. Speaking after Man Utd’s 1-1 draw with Fulham, Carrick insisted that he had no regrets over the Red Devils not signing another striker in the summer.
“No, I think that just because you get setbacks in certain positions, you can’t sign a player for cover in every one,” he said at his post-match press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“We’re not sure with Ben yet; he felt some pain after the [Brighton] game and we are assessing him at the moment. He definitely wasn’t ready for today. I haven’t got any more news to give you, just that he felt pain [in] his shin.”
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While Carrick might be right in theory in what he is saying, his words almost act as a layer of protection for Ineos’ shortcomings in the summer transfer market. Ineos did do stellar work with the midfield rebuild, but the Red Devils entered the season short in other positions.
The Red Devils needed another key left-back option and an alternative to Sesko to lead the frontline in his absence. Carrick received neither at United, and Ineos have faced scrutiny over their failure to fortify both the left-back and striker roles in the summer.
Carrick should be more furious that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s regime did not land another forward, especially when his other striker alternative to Sesko is Joshua Zirkzee. The Red Devils were unable to offload Zirkzee from Old Trafford and the 25-year-old Man Utd striker offers very little to the Red Devils attack when he is on the pitch.
The only reason that the former Man Utd midfielder might not be more unhappy with Ineos’ inability to sign another striker would be the start of the October international break. The extended international friendlies will provide Sesko with plenty of time to recover ahead of United’s next Premier League outing against Tottenham at Old Trafford in October.