Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is sidelined until at least the new year due to an ongoing shin injury in another heavy blow for under-pressure manager Michael Carrick.
Sesko has not played for United since their on 16 September.
The 23-year-old Slovenian missed the entirety of pre-season due to a similar injury and Carrick said before the first international break that he would undergo tests to determine the extent of the problem.
Sesko has avoided surgery but the club’s medical team, working alongside specialists, has determined that an extended period of rest is required for Sesko to fully recover from the shin injury.
Carrick confirmed that this would rule him out until January in his press conference ahead of a potentially decisive trip to Chelsea for his future.
“Unfortunately it looks like Ben is going to be out for a period of time,” he said. “We’re still not clear of exactly how long but it’s going to be for a longer period of time.
“We’ve got to go through a healing process for the injury to see how it would react, in what direction to go with that. Even now we’re still working through it but [it’s] unfortunate obviously first and foremost for Ben, for the period he’s had and trying to get through it.
“Going through this again and for us to not have him available is obviously a blow. We’ll try and get him back as quickly as we can.”
Sesko has scored two goals this season, coming off the bench to bag in the before scoring in the in the Champions League four days later.
He becomes the latest injury concern for United, joining the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw in the treatment room, all of whom are expected to return in November.
Carrick was able to provide somewhat of a positive on Mainoo’s recovery, revealing he has returned to partial team training on Wednesday.
“Kobbie did a little bit of training yesterday so he’s back and around the group which is obviously a positive,” he added.
Sesko’s absence is nevertheless another attacking setback for Carrick whose United side were toothless up front in the at Old Trafford last weekend.
He was at after that defeat as members of the United hierarchy met at Carrington on Monday to discuss his future, but Carrick and will take charge for the visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.