The Real Reason Sesko Is Sitting Out Man Utd's Clash Against Wrexham

Manchester United forward Benjamin Šeško has been left out of the club's opening preseason fixture of the summer against Wrexham, though broader concerns over his fitness have been downplayed.

Šeško suffered a shin injury that saw him withdrawn at halftime during May's victory over Liverpool, leading to him missing all three remaining matches of the 2025–26 season. The Slovenian forward did not feature at the World Cup this summer and is still not at full fitness.

When a 25-man squad traveled to Helsinki, Finland for the Wrexham fixture, Šeško and newly signed goalkeeper Karl Darlow were absent from the group. Šeško is continuing his fitness work at the club's Carrington training facility, while Darlow is in the "final stages" of his recovery from a "procedure" carried out at the end of last season.

Manchester United have stated that "both players are expected to be fully fit and available for the start of 2026–27." There is currently no indication of when either player might rejoin the wider squad for a preseason schedule taking place entirely across Europe.

Following five additional fixtures across four countries, United's new Premier League campaign will kick off at newly promoted Hull City's MKM Stadium on Saturday, August 22.

Man Utd Take on Wrexham With Partial Squad

The opening phase of preseason will present a valuable opportunity for several young and fringe players to make a case for a more prominent role once the full squad reconvenes.

Currently, United are without Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot, Senne Lammens, Amad Diallo, Youri Tielemans, Noussair Mazraoui and Marcus Rashford due to their involvement at the World Cup.

Matthijs de Ligt continues to be sidelined after spending several months on the sidelines last season with a back injury.

This opens the door for Joshua Zirkee, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro, with United anticipating a schedule of more than 50 games in 2026–27, up from just 40 last season. Players such as Harry Amass, Jack and Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Chido Obi and others will also have the chance to make an impression.

World Cup participants, each required to take a mandatory three-week break from the conclusion of their tournament, will progressively rejoin the traveling squad. As August 22 draws nearer, the squad will increasingly resemble the side Michael Carrick will field against Hull.

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Man Utd 2026 Preseason Schedule