Sesko in action for Manchester United in 2026

Manchester United injury latest on Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt

Adem Ozcan Last updated: May 18, 2026, 4:32 pm
0

Image: IMAGO / Sportimage

Manchester United are preparing for the final game of the season against Brighton with continued uncertainty surrounding two important players, Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt.

Michael Carrick’s side head into the final fixture still dealing with injuries that have disrupted parts of the campaign, with both players now facing very different recovery timelines.

While Sesko’s immediate availability remains unclear, De Ligt has already seen his season officially come to an end.

Benjamin Sesko facing race against time

Benjamin Sesko may have already played his final match of the campaign.

The striker has been absent since suffering a problem during Manchester United’s victory over Liverpool earlier this month.

The issue occurred following a collision with Ibrahima Konaté that forced the forward heavily into the advertising boards.

Carrick later confirmed that the incident aggravated an existing issue.

Speaking recently, the United manager admitted Sesko had not yet fully recovered.

“Ben’s still not 100 per cent with the problem he has.”

The Slovenian has since missed matches against Sunderland and Nottingham Forest and has yet to resume full training.

Having followed Manchester United’s season closely, Sesko’s physical presence and movement have increasingly become important parts of the team’s attacking structure.

However, with Slovenia failing to qualify for the World Cup, the striker will now benefit from an uninterrupted recovery period during the summer.

Manchester United injury update Status
Benjamin Sesko Major doubt vs Brighton
Issue Aggravated existing injury
Matthijs de Ligt Out after surgery
Expected return Early next season or later

source: club updates – 16 May 2026

Matthijs de Ligt begins long recovery

Matthijs de Ligt’s situation is considerably clearer.

The defender underwent surgery last week to address an ongoing back issue that has kept him unavailable since November.

The decision followed months of rehabilitation attempts and various efforts to avoid surgical intervention.

De Ligt reflected on the difficult period following confirmation of the procedure.

“Since November I have done everything, pushing myself in every session and exploring every option.”

He also made clear his determination to return.

“I remain as determined as ever to represent Manchester United.”

United hoping for positive end to campaign

From the closing weeks of Manchester United’s season, managing injuries has remained a recurring challenge.

Carrick will now hope to finish the campaign positively before attention shifts fully toward preparations for next season.

Whether Sesko features against Brighton remains uncertain, while De Ligt’s focus has already moved entirely toward rehabilitation.

Key Points

  • Benjamin Sesko remains a major doubt for Brighton
  • The striker has not returned to training
  • Matthijs de Ligt underwent surgery last week
  • De Ligt has not played since November
  • Manchester United face Brighton in their final game

What’s next

Manchester United will assess Sesko's condition before making a final decision on his involvement against Brighton.

De Ligt will continue rehabilitation with hopes of returning during the early stages of next season.

How much have injuries affected Manchester United’s campaign this season?

0 Comments

First read message

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Football Place