Slovenia is heading into their Nations League campaign opener at home against Scotland on Saturday with a massive problem: Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is out with a shin injury. This isn’t just any absence, folks. The 23-year-old has been a cornerstone for his country, racking up 16 goals in 45 appearances. Losing that kind of firepower before you even kick off your campaign? That’s a brutal blow.
Sesko’s Persistent Shin Pain Is a Major Red Flag
This isn’t just a bump or bruise. Sesko is battling a persistent shin injury, and it sounds like a recurring nightmare. He felt pain after United’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, and that forced him to miss their draw with Fulham on Sunday. There are real fears this is similar to the problem he struggled with last season. Remember, United signed him from RB Leipzig last summer, and even though he only managed 19 starts, he still netted 12 goals last season. He’s followed that up with two goals in six appearances this term. So, yeah, he’s a consistent scorer, and his current club form just makes this absence sting even more. Further testing is on the way to figure out just how bad this shin is.
More Injuries Pile Up As Slovenia Tries to Adapt
It’s not just Sesko either; Slovenia’s bench boss is dealing with a full-blown injury crisis. Jagiellonia Bialystok striker Niko Prelc and Viborg centre-half Zan Zaletel are also sidelined. Plus, they were already without Legia Warsaw’s experienced Petar Stojanovic, who’s currently on loan to Maribor. To fill the gaps, Maribor right-back Zan Celar and Omonia left-back Jure Balkovec have been called up. Slovan Bratislava forward Andraz Sporar hit the nail on the head talking to the Slovenian FA website: “It is impossible to replace a player of Benjamin’s calibre, but football is a team sport and Slovenia has never relied on just one player.” He even brought up Igor Vekic’s excellent performance in goal when Jan Oblak was injured as an example of their team strength. Sporar added, “This will be a major setback for us. We know what he brings to our attack and the national team. We will try to adapt as best we can. We will certainly miss him, especially with four matches coming up.” That last part, “four matches coming up,” really highlights the long-term pain here.
So, Slovenia has their work cut out for them on Saturday against Scotland. They’re missing multiple key players, especially up front, and the pressure is on the rest of the squad to step up. Can they pull off a win and start their Nations League campaign on the right foot without their main man? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply