Wayne Rooney ridicules Benjamin Sesko’s shin‑pad excuse as United draw
On 23 September 2026, former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney used his Stick to United podcast to criticise striker Benjamin Sesko for missing United’s 1‑1 away draw at Fulham on Sunday, suggesting the Slovenian’s shin injury was not severe enough to keep him out.
Rooney and United legends condemn Sesko’s shin‑pad excuse
Rooney opened his Stick to United episode by questioning the severity of Sesko’s injury. “Shin? Has he broken it?” he asked, adding, “You can hurt your shin, you can take tackles… I bet he’s wearing them little stupid shinpads as well.”
Later, he went on to argue that a striker who is a No9 for Man United should not sit out a must‑win game because of a sore shin, calling the omission “a big part of the problem.” Rooney also recalled the old United culture of playing through pain, saying, “Unless you physically can’t play, you play when you’re injured. I remember before games we used to get injections and the doctor used to put them in your arse.”
Former teammates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt echoed Rooney’s frustration on their podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football with Paddy McGuinness. Scholes said, “If it isn’t broken, just wear your shinpads,” while Butt added, “You’re a player – you either break your shin or you don’t play!”
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Slovenian teammates urge patience
Leeds defender Jaka Bijol, speaking for Slovenia, defended the young forward, saying, “I hope and believe that Beni knows how to distance himself from this kind of pressure. When things aren’t going your best on the pitch and you have certain doubts, reading things like this can make your confidence even worse. He shouldn’t pay too much attention to it, since we all know what quality he has.”
Swansea forward Zan Vipotnik also voiced support, noting, “It’s not easy for him. Recurring physical problems are bad, and to add to that it messes with your head… I really hope and believe his absence from the pitch will be as short as possible and that things will turn for the best very soon.”
Sesko, a Slovenian international, has shown flashes of brilliance in his short spell at Old Trafford but has struggled to maintain consistent form, prompting the criticism from his former club legends. His limited appearances have left fans and pundits divided over his role in the squad.
United’s 1‑1 draw away at Fulham on Sunday sparked the debate, with Rooney insisting that playing through injury is part of the club’s ethos. The discussion continues as the striker remains sidelined.