Manchester United lose Sesko and Darlow for international break: four withdrawals in one day

Manchester United's injury problems deepened on Monday as striker Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Karl Darlow withdrew from their national teams on the first day of the international break. The two exits brought the club's total to four confirmed absences within 24 hours, leaving the squad with mounting concerns ahead of the final stretch of the season.

• Sesko leaves the Slovenia camp with a shin problem sustained in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton.
• Darlow withdraws from Wales despite being on the bench for the draw at Fulham.
• Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo complete the United casualty list after leaving the England squad.
• United will carry out further tests on Sesko this week before setting a recovery plan.

Benjamin Sesko's injury and his Slovenia withdrawal

The 23-year-old missed Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham due to a shin issue that appeared during the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton the previous week. After assessment by United's medical staff, the decision was taken to rule him out of Slovenia's upcoming fixtures.

Slovenia were set to play two Nations League matches against Scotland, along with additional games against North Macedonia and Switzerland. Sesko will not feature in any of them. United are now preparing a specific rehabilitation plan to determine when he can return to full training.

Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break. Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.

All Manchester United withdrawals during the international break

Sesko's exit was not the only setback of the day. Karl Darlow, United's third-choice goalkeeper, left the Wales camp despite sitting on the bench at Craven Cottage. His withdrawal adds to a difficult period for Craig Bellamy's side, who are also without Harry Wilson due to a quad injury and Nathan Broadhead through another physical problem.

Sesko and Darlow joined an injury list that already included Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo. Michael Carrick confirmed that Rashford picked up an issue at Craven Cottage and was replaced after struggling with his hip, a problem that also bothered him during the summer.

Rashford and Mainoo remain doubts for the next Premier League match

Mainoo, who travelled to the summer's World Cup but did not play a single minute under Tuchel, was also substituted late in the draw against Fulham. His availability for upcoming United fixtures is uncertain until the full diagnosis is confirmed.

What losing four players means for United during the break

The international window was supposed to provide competitive minutes for several United players. Instead, the club now faces a period of medical uncertainty. Four members of the first-team setup will miss their national team commitments, forcing the coaching staff to review training loads ahead of the restart.

The timing is particularly inconvenient. United continue to fight for their league position and cannot afford further setbacks. Losing players during a period when other clubs are recovering injured stars creates a clear strategic disadvantage before the demanding run of fixtures to come.

What comes next for United's injured players

United's medical team will evaluate the extent of Sesko's shin injury this week. A recovery timeline will be set once the tests are completed. Darlow's case appears less serious, but the club prefers to monitor him in Manchester rather than risk him with Wales.

Rashford and Mainoo complete the list of absentees. Both remain under observation and their return to training will depend on how they respond to treatment over the coming days.

Frequently asked questions about Manchester United's injury withdrawals