Rooney pushes injured Sesko to play as Utd eye Tottenham clash

Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United’s promising striker Benjamin Sesko to push through a lingering shin problem, insisting the 23‑year‑old should ‘play when you’re injured’. The former Red Devils legend made the comment as Utd prepare for a crucial home clash with Tottenham on 10 October.

Injury woes and recent returns

Sesko has not started a single Premier League match this term, missing the entire pre‑season because of the shin issue. The 23‑year‑old’s recovery appeared to accelerate when he scored in United’s 2‑2 draw with Everton, then added another in the Champions League group‑stage win over Sabah.

Despite the late goals, United omitted him from the trip to Fulham last weekend, and club medical staff later confirmed he was back on the treatment table. The setback forced Sesko to withdraw from Slovenia’s Nations League squad for fixtures against Scotland, North Macedonia and Switzerland over the next two‑and‑a‑half weeks.

Manager Michael Carrick now faces a dilemma ahead of United’s return on 10 October, when they host bottom‑of‑the‑table Tottenham at Old Trafford. It remains unclear whether the Slovenian centre‑forward will be fit enough to feature in what is expected to be a must‑win encounter.

Rooney's blunt advice

Speaking on the club’s ‘Stick to United’ podcast, Rooney asked, ‘What’s his injury? His shin? Has he broken it? You can hurt your shin, take tackles.’ He suggested the problem might be shin splints or a simple bruise, but urged the youngster to play if he physically can.

Rooney added, ‘If you’re at a football club like Manchester United and you’re trying to get in the team, you play as the number nine even with a sore shin. You play when you’re injured unless you physically can’t.’ The former record‑scorer stressed that avoiding play only deepens the problem. He noted that at Man United the battle for the centre‑forward role is relentless.

He also recalled how, in his playing days, ‘five or six squad members at a time would receive injections from the team doctor to make themselves available.’ Rooney described a line of players with shorts down while the doctor administered the shots.

Statistical record and tactical ideas

Sesko has already netted 14 goals in 38 appearances for the Red Devils, a strike rate that underlines his importance despite limited league minutes. His goals have come mainly in cup and European fixtures, highlighting his impact when fit.

Rooney urged Carrick to consider reshuffling the attack, proposing that Matheus Cunha move to the left and that Marcus Rashford could operate as the central striker. He argued Cunha’s pace and ability to drive forward suit a wide role, while Rashford’s finishing could fill the number‑nine vacancy.