Michael Carrick has issued an update on Benjamin Sesko after the striker was forced off against Liverpool

Manchester United are sweating on the fitness of £73.7million striker Benjamin Sesko ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The Red Devils agreed a deal with RB Leipzig for the Slovenia international worth an initial £66.3million, with the remainder made up in add-ons, and he has become an important figure in Michael Carrick’s attack this season.

Sesko scored Manchester United’s second goal in their 3-2 win over Liverpool, taking his tally to 11 in the Premier League and 12 in all competitions. The forward led the line impressively, but was hurt before the break after being challenged by Ibrahima Konate near the corner flag. The incident sent Sesko into the advertising hoardings and he was unable to continue after half-time.

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“He got a bang on his shin when he fell down the side of the pitch,” Carrick told the media after the game “It’s something that he’s been carrying for a little bit as well, so we’ve had to manage him a bit, but he’s certainly had a bang right on the same spot. It’s as simple as that, really. He’s been carrying a bit of a shin problem for some time, and it was when we got pushed into the hoarding and down the dip. So that was it.”

Manchester United had welcomed Matheus Cunha and Luke Shaw back into the starting XI after injury concerns, but Sesko’s withdrawal created another issue ahead of the trip to Wearside. Kobbie Mainoo later scored the winner, with Manchester United now preparing to face Sunderland on Saturday.

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