Scholes and Butt mock Man Utd after Sesko’s shin setback

At Old Trafford, a heavy landing on the pitch after a win over Liverpool in May left Benjamin Sesko clutching his shin, a scene that prompted former United greats Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt to voice their frustration.

Injury timeline and impact

Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig for £74 million in the summer of 2025, but missed the entire pre‑season because of a shin problem first suffered last season. He aggravated the issue after a spring kick to the shin and the May collision at Old Trafford, prompting United to keep him out of the squad for the Fulham game.

He will undergo tests this week before the club decides on a treatment plan, leaving United without their designated No 9 as the season drags on.

United's front‑line dilemma

United chose not to sign another centre‑forward in the summer, relying instead on Joshua Zirkzee, who has scored nine goals in 77 appearances, as the only other option. Scholes joked that Sesko should “put his shinpads on”, while Butt added, “either break your shin or you play”.

Nicky Butt says Michael Carrick is killing Matheus Cunha at United

Both legends questioned the lack of a true No 9, with Butt asking, “How can Man United have one centre forward? Who is injured, with what, a shin injury?” Their criticism came on the latest episode of The Good, The Bad and The Football.

Sesko started in the Champions League against Sabah and in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, but was a substitute in United’s opening four league games and omitted entirely against Fulham.

United have collected just five points from their opening five Premier League matches, sitting in 12th place, and their back four and midfield have also drawn heavy criticism from the former players.

With Sesko sidelined, manager Michael Carrick has deployed Matheus Cunha in a central role, prompting Butt to say, “Paying Cunha as a nine kills him” and to lament the lack of a genuine striker.