Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says summer signing Benjamin Sesko has avoided serious injury and only faces a further “few weeks” out.
The 22-year-old striker withdrew from Slovenia’s squad after limping off with a knee injury sustained late in the 2-2 draw at Tottenham before the international break.
Amorim was initially “more concerned” about the issue due to the fact it related to a knee, but the United boss is confident Sesko has avoided a lengthy lay-off.
“He’s going to stay a few weeks out,” the United boss said. “I don’t know how long but it is not that serious.
“We have to be careful with him. He is doing the recovery, he is feeling better, so in a few weeks I expect to have Ben.”
Sesko will miss Monday’s home game against Everton and his return will likely come around the time three United players head to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I think it’s going to be more or less at the same time,” Amorim said of Sesko’s return and the departure of others.
“I don’t want to say for sure but when they are going to the camp I expect to have Ben back.”
Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are heading to the tournament in Morocco and discussions are ongoing with the relevant nations about when they are released.
“We have the rules when we have to release the players,” Amorim said. “We will see.
“We are doing our job to try to maintain the players a little bit longer but it’s not just in our hands.
“We need to respect that, but we will try to do everything to protect the club, protect the player and protect the national team.”
Asked when the players are supposed to go, Amorim said: “I think it’s two weeks before the start, so we’ll try to arrange something with the federations, but we need to respect their wills in this case.”
Mazraoui plays for hosts Morocco, who kick off the Africa Cup of Nations on December 21. Mbeumo and Diallo, who star for Cameroon and the Ivory Coast respectively, play on December 24.
United play Wolves on December 8 and Bournemouth on December 15, and persuaded the Cameroon Football Federation to release Andre Onana, now on loan at Trabzonspor, late for the last edition.
“Yeah (the Wolves game) is a concern but we already knew, and it is an opportunity for other players,” Amorim said. “We have also the under-21s.
“We need to send also a message in that time but of course it is not ideal because they are so important in our squad and we don’t have a long squad. But, again, our academy is for these moments and will be ready.”
United’s immediate attention is on Monday’s match against Everton.
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez continue to join Sesko on the sidelines, while Kobbie Mainoo is a doubt.
“Maguire is not ready,” Amorim said. “Kobbie didn’t train today but I think tomorrow we could see Kobbie. We will see.
“I feel Licha is becoming close to being ready to play. Of course we need to be careful. He is going to struggle in the first minutes but he’s clearly in a better position if you compare to two weeks ago.”
