Benjamin Sesko injury mocked as Michael Carrick accused of 'killing' Man Utd teammate

· Mirror

Michael Carrick is being accused of ‘killing’ a Manchester United player, with Benjamin Sesko also the subject of mocking now for having sustained a shin injury

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have questioned the seriousness of a shin injury that continues to sideline Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United. The pair have also accused Michael Carrick of playing Matheus Cunha in a position that 'kills him' and makes him nowhere near as effective as he can be.

Sesko, 23, missed the 1-1 draw with Fulham. The striker felt pain in his shin during the Carabao Cup third round defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.

Cunha started up front in the absence of the Slovenia international. He scored United's late equaliser to earn a point.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt said: "Playing Cunha as a nine kills him. He's nowhere near the player he is off the side."

The only time Cunha and Sesko have started together so far this season was in the Champions League match against Sabah. United's number ten began on the left wing and scored his first goal this term.

"We haven't got a number nine other than Sesko, other than (Joshua) Zirkzee, but he's been going, staying, going, staying. And when he does come on, he doesn't look anywhere near a Manchester United number nine."

Butt continued: "The biggest problem is the number nine. How can Man United have one centre forward? Who is injured, with what, a shin injury?" Scholes added: "How do you injure your shin? Ain't that a broken leg? Can't you just put your shin pads on?"

His co-host then concluded: "You either break your shin, or you play. Put your shin pads on or your padding on, I don't quite get it. Without knowing what it is, it is hard to discuss it."

Sesko missed all of pre-season with the injury. It also ended his debut campaign three matches early.

Butt also delivered his verdict on the rest of United's squad, saying: "Midfield, we have good footballers, but can't dominate a game.

"The back four look an average back four. The right-back, is he going to get you into the top two, top three? No. Harry (Maguire) is past his best. (Lisandro) Martinez is a good footballer, but he's not a dominant centre back. We know with Luke (Shaw), he plays three or four games, gets an injury, then he's back in. The back four is a massive problem."

Shaw notably started every Premier League match last season for United, one of only five outfield players ever to do so for the club. The others to do so are Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister (twice), Maguire and Steve Bruce.

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