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Benjamin Sesko has become the latest Manchester United player to withdraw from international duty, the club have confirmed.
Sesko has pulled out of the Slovenia squad after Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were ruled out of action for England, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow for Wales.
The 23-year-old striker missed United’s draw at Fulham on Sunday due to a recurrence of a niggling shin injury that kept him out of the final three games of last season and the club’s entire pre-season programme.
Sesko, who has made six appearances for United this season, has undergone scans and will have further tests this week to determine the best treatment plan. The initial results have been sent to Slovenia’s medical team, and Sesko will remain in Manchester to be assessed rather than travel to Ljubljana.
A club statement read: ‘Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break.
‘The striker had been called up by head coach Bostjan Cesar for two games against Scotland, plus meetings with North Macedonia and Switzerland, but he will now no longer join the squad.
Sesko has pulled out of the Slovenia squad after Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were ruled out of action for England, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow for Wales
‘Sesko last appeared in our Carabao Cup tie with Brighton & Hove Albion, but was absent from the matchday squad for our most recent encounter with Fulham. Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.’
Slovenia FA sources have said that it is up to United to give updates on Sesko’s fitness and plans for his recovery, adding that Cesar will not be commenting on the situation either.
United’s £74million signing from RB Leipzig has been at the centre of club-versus-country tensions in the past after Slovenia insisted on assessing the player when he withdrew from international duty in March and Cesar warned United that his country would not be pushed around.
The coach struck a more conciliatory tone when he named Sesko in his squad last week, but the latest pullout has raised more questions in Slovenia over his absence from the national team for a year.
Both United and Slovenia are keen to get to the bottom of Sesko’s shin problem after the striker claimed earlier this month that it was ‘perfect’ following an extended summer break.
‘It was basically just to make sure that it doesn't get worse because this was kind of a problem,’ he said. ‘We just need a little bit longer than usual, because if you start too early it might appear again. I think waiting a little bit longer was a great decision and now it's healed, so it's perfect.’
